The Minister of Higher Education, Pascale Déry, is unequivocal: the pro-Palestine camps which have taken shape in Quebec on the grounds of several universities must be “dismantled”. According to her, there are “other ways to demonstrate” against the violence of the attacks carried out by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip without encroaching on “private land”.
“I am calling for calm. It’s not easy for establishments and rectors to manage all that, and for the authorities either,” declared the minister on the sidelines of a press conference in downtown Montreal.
A first camp in Quebec first took shape at the end of April on the campus of McGill University, where dozens of tents were set up. In the last few days, however, a camp has also emerged on the grounds of the University of Quebec in Montreal as well as on that of the University of Sherbrooke. McGill, for its part, saw its request for a temporary injunction aimed at obtaining the dismantling of this encampment rejected on Wednesday by the Superior Court, which had issued a similar decision following an appeal initiated a few weeks ago by a few students. of the establishment.
However, despite these legal decisions, “the government’s position has not changed,” declared Ms. Déry. “These camps have no place,” ruled the minister, according to whom there are “other ways of demonstrating” which facilitate better “dialogue” on this polarizing issue.
“There is a way of expressing yourself in a different way than in camps on private land,” insisted the minister, who said she felt a strong “tension” on campuses faced with this form of occupation. She declared that these camps must be “dismantled”, while leaving the rectors of the universities concerned to manage this situation.
Digital Arts
The minister was in the metropolis on Thursday to announce an investment from Quebec of $43 million intended to allow two universities and five CEGEPs in the province to offer programs in the digital arts sector within the Islet. Balmoral, a large glass building located in downtown Montreal.
Since 2019, the building has already welcomed several hundred students from the School of Digital Arts, Animation and Design at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi. Facilities specializing in the creation of new media from the University of Quebec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue will, however, be set up in this building following redevelopment work on the premises which is due to begin shortly. A group of five CEGEPs, including those of Matane, Limoilou and Old Montreal, will also occupy some of the premises in this vast building.
“Quebec is the world leader in the field of digital arts, whether in video games, 3D animation or digital design. As we know, companies from all over the world are competing for Quebec talent in this field,” said Pascale Déry during a press conference held in the selected building in the Quartier des spectacles.
More than 1,000 students will soon be welcomed “under one roof” in order to acquire knowledge in various fields associated with digital creation, notably in video game development, 3D animation and digital design, indicated the minister, who hopes that this project will help “propel further” Quebec’s position “in the digital arts market” on an international scale.
“The challenge we have is that our universities are not able to provide enough students for the entire industry, which causes extremely significant workforce issues, where the importance of joining forces” so that different establishments can together increase “the pool” of students in the digital arts sector “because it is a sector where we have difficulty meeting the needs of industry,” declared Thursday the president of the University of Quebec, Alexandre Cloutier.
The financial assistance of $42.6 million announced by Quebec will thus make it possible to finance the rental for five years of three and a half additional floors of the Balmoral Island and to cover the costs which will be linked to the development of these spaces. The project also provides for the creation of collaborative work spaces to allow students and researchers attached to the different higher education establishments who will be present in this building to share their knowledge.