McGill University has frozen its French language support program
The unexpected effect of the Quebec government's actions.
Last week, Quebec provincial authorities announced that tuition fees for students will increase starting next year. For example, it will be doubled to CA$ 17,000 (from $8-9 000) for undergraduate students from other provinces. It is not yet known how much international students will have to pay, but the Quebec government is already going to charge the first CA$ 20,000 for the development of francophone universities. The provincial Ministry of Education intends to support francophone educational programs in this way.
However, the first effect achieved by the authorities was unexpected. One of the three universities covered by this decree decided to freeze the program for the development and support of the French language.
McGill University, ranked among the 10 best in Canada, planned to allocate CA$ 50 million over the next 5 years to promote French among students.
"The larger goal of the program was to help students, faculty and staff integrate more fully into Quebec society, broadening the already extensive impact of our talent and expertise across Quebec," the university's press office said in a statement.
These funds will now remain in the budget to act as a kind of insurance against the likely outflow of students. All three of the region's English-language institutions, McGill, Concordia and Bishop's, are predicting a decline in the number of international students and students from other provinces. Representatives of all three have spoken out strongly against tuition increases.
The price increase will not affect universities and students evenly. So, for example, students from France and Belgium may not be afraid of it — for obvious reasons. Quebec authorities also promise that the measure does not apply to medical or graduate students.
