Montreal’s McGill University is delaying a $50-million investment to help its community “learn or improve their French” as Quebec plans to nearly double tuition for out-of-province students.
The university confirmed in an email Thursday that the funding was going to be used for additional programs and services over a five-year period.
“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,” McGill’s media relations office said.
“Finding the initial funding for McGill’s investment in the promotion of the French language was extremely difficult.”
Last week, the province announced that tuition for undergraduate students from other provinces will rise to $17,000 from $8,992 starting next year. The government will also collect a first $20,000 paid by international students and reinvest that money in French-language universities.
Aside from rising tuition rates to help offset the costs covered by the government, the Legault government also claimed the changes will help with the decline of the French language in Montreal.
The plan has triggered a wave of reaction since it would disproportionately affect Quebec’s three English-language universities. They attract more students from outside from province than their francophone counterparts — and more money.
All three English universities — McGill, Concordia and Bishop’s University — have publicly voiced concerns about the tuition hike.
Before the plan was announced, McGill says it was told by the Legault government that changes that could affect its financial situation were coming — but it was “not provided with any details of the changes.”
“We are currently examining the potential financial impact that these might have on the university,” it said.
— with files from Global’s Felicia Parrillo and The Canadian Press
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.