French-speaking Canadian organizations welcome the increase in tuition fees for students outside Quebec, even if they consider that improvements are still possible. Rather than seeing this increase as a threat to the vitality of French, they hope that the measure will breathe new life into French-speaking establishments in their provinces.
“An increase in fees is never a good thing in the eyes of students,” concedes Haïfa Zemni, president of the Fédération de la jeunesse franco-ontarienne. But this could “encourage post-secondary registrations in French in Ontario. If [les étudiants] no longer have the opportunity to study in French in Quebec because of the costs, they will perhaps turn to Ontario and encourage the institutions that we already have here. »
According to the president of the Federation of Francophone and Acadian Communities (FCFA), Liane Roy, the measure could even encourage the various provincial governments to invest more in their French-speaking universities, and thus “increase the offer and accessibility of programs in French “.
Last Friday, the Legault government announced its desire to increase tuition fees for new foreign students or from other Canadian provinces starting in the fall of 2024. The latter will see their expenses almost double, since they will go from 8,992 $ per year, at $17,000, the equivalent of what their training costs the government. New international students will pay $20,000.
Registration for French programs offered only in Quebec will remain at the preferential rate. A commitment provided for in the Act respecting the official and common language of Quebec, French, but which “remains intact”, rejoices Liane Roy, since fees equivalent to those of Quebecers for all programs “threaten (would) other French-speaking institutions” in Canada. “It will facilitate access to studies in French, and that’s what we want. »
According to Ms. Roy, it is important that Franco-Canadians can continue to study in specialized programs, offered in French only in Quebec. “We have a wealth of programs in Quebec that are not found elsewhere in Canada,” notes Olivier Bégin-Caouette, professor in the Faculty of Educational Sciences at the University of Montreal.
Other more competitive provinces
Despite this, the increase in fees in Quebec establishments could make Canadian universities more competitive. “If a student can study cheaper at home, the risk is that they will study in English,” warns Ms. Roy.
Result, “certain students who lived close to Quebec, but in other provinces, mainly New Brunswick and Ontario, will perhaps reconsider coming to study […] in Quebec,” says Olivier Bégin-Caouette. The phenomenon may not extend to Canadians who are more geographically distant, according to the specialist in post-secondary studies, because they may remain interested in a university program, or “want to live a particular experience”.
He believes that the CAQ government will therefore have to think about Quebec’s place within the Francophonie. “It is not a question of (whether these students) contribute to Quebec society, but rather whether Quebec maintains itself as the French-speaking center in America. »
Improve retention
In addition to “curbing the decline of French in Montreal,” the CAQ measure aims to put an end to “a policy that subsidized students who do not stay here at a loss.” However, contrary to what the Minister of Higher Education, Pascale Déry, puts forward, Canadian students studying in Quebec do not leave the province after the end of their studies, believes Ms. Roy.
“When the medicine program at the University of Moncton was created, in partnership with the University of Sherbrooke, it was precisely to ensure that the doctors who would be trained could stay in the region. […] This has increased the retention of doctors in New Brunswick. […] That’s really documented,” she says.
The Ministry of Higher Education did not indicate to the Duty the number of Canadian students who stay in Quebec after their studies.
Promote mobility
The FCFA also believes that the measure could “limit” the choices of French speakers across the country. “Young people from Manitoba or Alberta who want to study in a program not offered in their province of origin, but which would be offered in Moncton, risk facing much higher costs and greater distances than if they were going to study in Quebec.
She therefore invites the government, which has already said it is open to establishing “exemptions” for Franco-Canadians, to “continue discussions” via public consultations, to establish “incentive measures” which “would encourage young people to study in French”, such as a “mobility programme”, for example.
“There will be reflection to be had on the aid or agreements that we can conclude to encourage the arrival of Francophile students,” believes Mr. Bégin-Caouette. […] There is a consequence that the government perhaps did not foresee, which is that by putting this brake on non-Quebec Canadian students, they are harming French-speaking mobility within Canada. »
This report is supported by the Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada.