Over the last few months, the Quebec government has announced a financial plan that would increase out-of-province tuition at English-speaking universities in Quebec. Affected Schools have been mobilizing in response to this increase, claiming that the unfair tuition hike would discourage students and undermine receiving an English education in Quebec. Specifically, in downtown Montreal, Concordia and McGill students are responding to the tuition hike by protesting and striking.
Here at McGill, students are participating vis-à-vis their faculty or department organizations and student societies to send out their message to the government. The Bull & Bear interviewed Lola Milder, a McGill student majoring in Environment and Urban Studies, who plans on participating in a strike organized by MUGS.
One concern about the tuition increased talked about on campus is how it will impact students looking to come to McGill and what message the government is sending to future students. Milder expresses how this increase of tuition hikes “perpetuates elitism on University campuses.” The view is that education as a resource has been restricted by the Quebec government and weaponized in the political aims of “language politics.” The fear here is that students will be denied “the right to higher education,” and students believe that the CAQ is devising a threat that could affect in-province students next.
Therefore, students who are organizing demonstrations against an increase plan on applying pressure on their provincial government. In describing the strike that Milder is participating in, she explains how the student strikes “aim to pressure the government by wasting their money,” something they value highly. A 3-day strike, although a temporary solution, can be used to garner “awareness among the student body and build capacity for a longer strike.”
As one of the various departmental student organizations that plan on protesting, MUGS has taken the initiative to strike, following a student vote. Milder recounts the moment the decision was made last Monday, where a general assembly vote passed with over 25% of the student body present for the vote. Milder shares the excitement, “Many people spoke up and raised ideas and concerns. When we finally voted on the motion, almost unanimously, we broke out into a big cheer.”
Additionally, as part of a larger undertaking to organize these protests for students across Montreal, Milder explains how other organizations have aligned their votes and strikes for the same time. McGill and Concordia students have organized for over 10,000 students to strike. As a result, students like Milder are looking forward to other students participating in this movement, as the implementation of higher tuition greatly impacts how McGill and other English universities will function. As for the future, Milder confirms that a winning vote held by MUGS has agreed to a 5-day strike in March, “on the condition that 15,000 students in Quebec vote to strike.” Milder encourages students to reach their departments at McGill and Concordia to hold general assembly votes in favour of the next strike.
Above all, this initiative to strike is an urgent measure, as it is crucial to understand that the impacts felt by these changes are not limited to potential students. Milder urges students to understand that the tuition hike will impact all students, as “people are going to get laid off, departments are going to be downsized, financial aid could be cut,” and much more.
This tuition hike is one of a variety of measures taking place that are impacting our educational institutions. The federal government has put in place a two-year cap on international students’ visas, which will significantly lower the number of students planning on attending Canadian universities. Additionally, McGill has considered opening of out of province campuses or branches, so that the school can function properly without the financial strain of these new laws. The tuition hikes will impact our universities’ budget, therefore creating measures that will alter McGill’s operations.
Consequently, students in Quebec are rallying and advocating out of fear of the cutbacks the tuition increase will cause. A barrier is being increasingly implemented for out-of-province and foreign students, and these concerns will not be addressed without noteworthy intervention. In addition, wider actions being taken place across Canada, as well as the already made restrictions in Quebec, will increasingly strain our educational institutions.
