Quebec private college association calls on CAQ to reconsider $30 million fine over English students
The Association des collèges privés du Québec (ACPQ) is urging François Legault's Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government to negotiate with LaSalle College instead of imposing nearly $30 million in fines over English-speaking students.
'It unfairly compromises the viability of colleges that play an essential role in providing access to French-language post-secondary education here in Quebec,' the ACPQ said in a statement Monday.
Last week, the college confirmed it was being fined for enrolling too many students in its English-language programs over the past two academic years, saying it was accused of contravening Quebec's French Language Charter.
It was amended under Bill 96 to only allow junior colleges to enroll a certain number of students in their English-language programs.
The ACPQ said it is alarmed by the CAQ's move, which could threaten the college's survival. It is calling for 'a reasonable, fair and realistic solution to avoid irreversible consequences for LaSalle College and all its students.'
Private colleges receive some subsidies from the government, representing about 60 per cent of the subsidy allocated to students in the public system, according to the ACPQ.
'This substantial difference reflects the significant contribution of private colleges to the efficiency of Quebec's higher education system,' it said.
The college association said it 'commends the government's stated commitment to protecting and promoting the French language,' and stressed that institutions like LaSalle College provide higher education in French.
The ACPQ participated in Bill 96 consultations in May 2023 and recommended a gradual implementation of new measures as it was worried about the fairness of the government's proposed penalty system.
'However, we regret that the draft regulation concerning subsidy reductions unfairly and disproportionately targets many subsidized private colleges, which will jeopardize their sustainability,' the ACPQ said. 'In this context, the uniform application of a cutback, without regard to the structural differences between the public and subsidized private systems, is not only unjustified but counterproductive.'
CTV News reached out to the French-Language Ministry for comment but did not hear back at the time of publication.
The ACPQ is demanding that the government quickly put in place a negotiated transition plan based on 'justice, fairness and realism' and to treat LaSalle College 'in line with its historical and current contribution to the promotion of the French language and higher education in Quebec' and avoid the closure of a major institution.
'The ACPQ therefore calls for a reasonable, fair and realistic solution to avoid irreversible consequences for LaSalle College and all its students,' it said.
With files from CTV News Montreal's Rachel Lau
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
17 minutes ago
- CTV News
NCC cancels upcoming Gatineau, Que. concert by controversial U.S. musician
A controversial U.S. musician was set to perform in Gatineau on Sat, but the National Capital Commission cancelled the performance. CTV's Austin Lee reports. The National Capital Commission (NCC) has cancelled an upcoming concert by controversial Christian musician Sean Feucht in Gatineau, Que., following other Canadian cities who have called off his performances. 'The NCC will not be issuing an event permit that had been requested for Jacques-Cartier Park North following consultation with the Gatineau Police Service and due to concerns about public safety and security for and around the event,' the NCC said in an email to CTV News Ottawa. On social media, Feucht describes himself as a missionary, musician, author and 'founder of global movements.' Sean Feucht Christian musician Sean Feucht of California sings to the crowd during a rally at the National Mall in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. (Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo) He unsuccessfully ran for congress in 2020 as a Republican candidate in California and has faced criticism for speaking out against abortion rights and the LGTBQ2+ community. He has also grown in popularity within the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement as a prominent figure with nearly 600,000 followers on Facebook and another 166,000 followers on X. Speaking to Gatineau residents on Wednesday, some expressed frustration over the planned concert. 'My issue isn't that his values don't align with mine or that I have a difference of opinion politically. It's that it's a public space,' said Melissa, a Gatineau resident who asked CTV News Ottawa not to include her last name. 'If it was in a private arena or a private room, I wouldn't be upset by that. People have the right to exist, and they have the right to say whatever they want to say as long as it falls within hate speech laws.' Sean Feucht Melissa, a Gatineau, Que. resident, says she's concerned over a planned concert by singer Sean Feucht this weekend. (Brad Quinn/CTV News Ottawa) Parks Canada revoked Feucht's permit to perform at the York Redoubt National Historic Site in Halifax for similar concerns over safety and security. He then found a different venue near Halifax to hold his event on Wednesday but permits to perform in Moncton, Charlottetown and Quebec City have also been reportedly revoked. 'Theses are worrisome messages. They're very popular in the states. It's popular to beat up on small minority groups as target victims. We saw that in the 1930s in other parts of the world, we just don't feel that's where Canadians want to go,' said lay minister David-Roger Gagnon with St. Paul's United Church in Riverview New Brunswick. 'If this gentleman wants to promote that message, he's welcome to do that in his own country. But in Canada, I don't think those values resonate with us.' Melissa expressed skepticism over Feucht's claims on social media that pushback to his shows is rooted in anti-Christian bigotry. 'I'm Christian. Most of my friends are Christian,' she said. 'I don't think there's anything Christian about his public stances on women or marginalized groups.' With files from The Canadian Press
CTV News
17 minutes ago
- CTV News
Businesses, residents raise safety concerns about site of April fire, vacant building
There are concerns about squatters and safety issues along a section of St-Laurent Boulevard in downtown and business owners are calling on the city to do something about it. (CTV News) On St. Laurent Boulevard, between Maisonneuve and Ontario streets, there is a stretch of business owners that have been voicing concerns over safety and security. Back in April, a fire destroyed a building and since then, a security perimeter has been placed around the site, as well as around another building that is empty. It has decreased foot traffic and led to a decline in business for some in the area. 'Being surrounded by the fencing and having issues inside and having employees not feeling safe coming to work … and clients not being able to find the store — it's just, like, what can you do?' said Hillary McLellan, manager of operations at the Eva B. vintage clothing store. CTV News spoke with some other businesses that also have safety concerns. One man said that squatters have been living at the back of the building. Since May, the city's opposition party has been calling for the demolition of the empty building. 'Because what we realize is that people don't feel safe and the situation has been normalized. That's something that we were really worried about. So obviously, we were asking for the administration to act and unfortunately, nothing has been done in the past two months and a half,' said Ensemble Montreal's Alba Zuniga Ramos. In a statement to CTV News, the city says it is aware of the problems, adding back in May it received a report stating that the structural integrity of the neighbouring building is compromised and the borough has plans to demolish it. The city says it is confident that after the demolition, the situation will improve. It was supposed to start the work last week, but it has yet to happen and it's not clear why there has been a delay.
Globe and Mail
17 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Carney to meet Inuit leaders to discuss Bill C-5
Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to meet with Inuit leaders Thursday to discuss the government's major-projects legislation, a gathering that is expected to be different in size and tone than last week's summit with First Nations. Mr. Carney will co-chair the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee, which includes Inuit leadership and federal ministers and meets regularly to discuss key issues. Along with the controversial Bill C-5, the committee is expected to discuss Arctic sovereignty and security, as well as housing and infrastructure. The summit, where Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed is the other co-chair, is the second of three meetings Mr. Carney promised on Bill C-5. Part of the legislation allows the federal cabinet to deem projects to be of national interest and then exempt them from various laws in order to speed up approvals and construction. Indigenous communities have voiced concerns about the law, saying they are not against development but are concerned the legislation may impact their treaty rights. The government says Indigenous groups who may be affected by proposed projects will be fully consulted at key stages. Thursday's meeting will be relatively small. The committee makeup varies, but tends to have fewer than 20 people, compared with the hundreds who attended the First Nations meeting last week. As well, the four Inuit regions in Canada have all signed comprehensive land-claim agreements, known as modern treaties. Why First Nations are clashing with Ontario and Ottawa over bills aimed at speeding up megaprojects The third meeting, with Métis, will take place on Aug. 7, according to the Métis National Council. Inuvialuit Regional Corporation chair and chief executive Duane Ningaqsiq Smith, who represents Inuit living in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region of the Northwest Territories and Yukon, said he wants to hear what Mr. Carney has to say about the implementation of Bill C-5, including how he plans to work with Indigenous governments. There are already specific processes in place under his modern treaty for aspects such as procurement, he said, where the organization is working with various federal departments. Mr. Smith said he would like to see those processes enhanced. 'It's their treaty just as much as it is ours, so they have an obligation to live up to it and implement accordingly,' he said in an interview. 'I can't speak for the other regions, but for my region, we're prepared to hear the Prime Minister out in regards to how they would look to begin to implement that act and work proactively with us.' Mr. Smith said his region is looking to recognize the potential opportunities of Bill C-5, while also respecting Inuit rights. His organization is building a gas plant and developing a local well, which he said would provide energy security for the region. It may not meet the national-interest level, he said, but he wants to speak to Mr. Carney about it. Overall, Mr. Smith said he is 'cautiously optimistic' about the meeting. It's a chance to raise concerns about various issues, including gaps in basic services such as internet and health care. Professor Gary Wilson, chair of the political science department at the University of Northern British Columbia, said it will probably be easier for the federal government to manage its relationship with Inuit as a whole on Bill C-5, compared with First Nations, given there are fewer people involved. Inuit also tend to be more united, Prof. Wilson said in an interview, while First Nations have a lot of diverse views. Opinion: Mark Carney's 'build, baby, build' aspirations face a challenge from Indigenous leaders Unlike First Nations, all of the Inuit regions have signed modern treaties, he added, which provide more certainty over land use and economic development. For example, treaties include different categories of land that come with different rights, he said. While there are still issues around the government not respecting the treaties, policy disagreements and addressing past wrongs, Prof. Wilson said he thinks relations between Inuit and the federal government have been better since the creation of the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee in 2017. 'I get the sense that Inuit are anxious to work with the government,' he said. Mr. Obed told senators in June that Bill C-5 risks creating the conditions for treaties to be infringed upon. He urged Parliament to take its time with the legislation, but it was passed in under a month. 'It creates the possibility of national interest projects ending up before the courts, with litigation causing significant delays in the national interest projects moving forward,' he said. Given that, Bill C-5 'may end up creating instability and ultimately undermining investor confidence, slowing the pace of investment needed in Inuit Nunangat,' he said, referring to the Inuit homeland.
