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Quebec City, March 19, 2009 – Given the current economic context, Quebec’s universities agree that the economy should be the government’s priority, but regret that they have not been included in the job support and economic recovery program. “The universities very much want to partner with the government and all the groups involved in the recovery, in the long term as well as the short term”, stated Heather Munroe-Blum, President of the Conference of Rectors and Principals of Quebec Universities (CREPUQ), and Principal and Vice Chancellor of McGill University.

For the universities, the Quebec government’s 2009-2010 budget provides the necessary adjustments for such factors as system costs (calculated in accordance with Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport standards) and fluctuations in enrollment, and confirms the reinvestments announced in previous budgets. Only modest increases have been granted in the budgets for research funding agencies.

The challenging situation the universities face is therefore not improving and they will have to make difficult budget choices for the coming year.

A Partnership for Prosperity

“Universities are essential to our prosperity. While acknowledging the seriousness of the current economic crisis, we also need to prepare for the future,” pointed out the CREPUQ President, who quoted a study published by Desjardins Group in November 2008 (http://www.desjardins.com/en/a_propos/etudes_economiques/actualites/point_vue_economique/pve81119.pdf). The study concluded that “our future prosperity hinges on our universities” and that “we must continue to invest heavily in our universities if we want Québec to continue to prosper”.

According to the aforementioned study, universities play an essential role in boosting productivity as they create and disseminate knowledge and train human capital. Their economic impact represents 4.2% of Quebec’s GDP, an estimated $11.9 billion for 2006. By contrast, the total public funding earmarked for universities in 2009–2010 is $2.5 billion. University funding contributes directly to improvement in the productivity of Quebec’s economy.

The Government Should Make Education a Top Priority

Ms. Munroe-Blum noted that in its analysis last fall of electoral platforms, CREPUQ invited elected representatives to make education a government priority. “The solution to all the major economic, social and environmental issues of our time is to raise the general public education level. In this regard, the universities applaud the efforts to keep drop-outs in school and improve trades and career training.”

Ms. Munroe-Blum invited the government to work with the universities on the following medium-term priorities:

• raise the per-student funding level to the average level for all universities in Canada with a substantial, foreseeable and recurring investment
• substantially increase the budgets for the three Quebec research funds, as well as the resources earmarked for research infrastructure.

“More than ever, training, research and innovation are necessary for the future prosperity of Quebec society”, concluded CREPUQ’s President.

Source :

Daniel Zizian, directeur général
Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec
514 288-8524 poste 201