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Montreal, May 1, 2012 – “In response to the list of demands presented by the Federation of College Students in Quebec (FECQ) and the Federation of University Students in Quebec (FEUQ), CREPUQ would like to issue a reminder that the under-funding of Quebec universities is a harsh reality. The annual shortfall in the Quebec university system is $600 million, and we simply cannot go on this way,” said Luce Samoisette, Chair-Elect of the CREPUQ Board of Directors and Rector of Sherbrooke University.

“We must stop pretending that we can provide a high-quality university education and remain competitive in research while continuing to under-fund our universities year after year. By doing so, we weaken an institution that plays a critical role in society and makes an irreplaceable contribution to Quebec—socially, culturally, scientifically and economically,” added Ms. Samoisette.

It is very disappointing that, after 12 weeks of the class boycott, the FECQ and FEUQ are seeking to settle the current dispute by denying the need for reinvestment, reiterating their initial demand for a tuition freeze and even making new demands to the government. It is even more disappointing that this is happening after the government has made significant improvements to the student financial aid program.

Numerous increases and improvements to the Loans and Bursaries Program will help make a university education more accessible than ever, as shown clearly in a series of calculations by professor and researcher Luc Godbout, current Research Chair in Taxation and Public Finance at Sherbrooke University. The only way to provide a quality education in a stimulating academic environment and ensure access to it is by funding universities adequately and increasing financial aid.

What’s more, it is absolutely untrue that universities are being granted additional funding without specific objectives, as student leaders are claiming. The University Funding Plan presented by the government in its 2011-2012 budget, identifies targets and indicators for the additional revenues. Money from the tuition fee increase must be used exclusively to improve the quality of teaching, research and student services.

Each university will sign a partnership agreement with the government by the fall 2012 semester. As provided for in the Funding Plan, money will not be available until those agreements are signed.

A moratorium on implementing the Funding Plan, a tuition freeze and the holding of “estates-general” are not viable solutions to the challenges our universities face. Turning back the clock and freezing tuition again will merely put the problem off until later and force us to go through all this again in a few years. In fact, it is precisely because tuition was frozen for 33 of the last 43 years that we are where we are today.

For several years now, we have been discussing and contemplating the issue of university funding and development. Multiple consultations have been held and now it is time to act.

“The need for action is urgent, since our university system is losing ground compared to others in Canada and North America. The mission of our universities is to provide students with an education that meets the highest international standards, and they need adequate funding to fulfil it,” added Daniel Zizian, Director General of CREPUQ.

CREPUQ includes all 18 Quebec universities. The organization acts as their voice in relations with government and milieus concerned with university education and research. It also fosters coordination and collaboration between universities, is a research centre for university administrations, acts as a centre for coordination and joint service delivery, and is a resource centre and think tank for its members.

Source :
Chantal Pouliot, Director of Communications
Conference of Rectors and Principals of Quebec Universities
514 288-8524, ext. 244
chantal.pouliot@crepuq.qc.ca