Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec

• Activities by Sector
  • Administration and Finance
  • Legal Affairs and Archives
  • Analyse des politiques publiques
  • Teaching and Research
    • Academic Affairs
    • Admission and Student Files
    • Current Program Evaluation Review
    • Ethics in University Research
    • Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
    • Libraries
    • Medical Affairs
    • Program Proposal Evaluation
    • Research
    • Student Services
    • University Sports
  • Information and Public Relations
  • Institutional Research
  • International Relations
  • Human Resources, Health and Safety
• Publications
• Useful Links
  • Ministries and Agencies
  • Research Guides
  • Student Federations and Unions
  • University Associations
  • Research Agencies
  • Business
  • School and College Associations
  • Professional Organizations

Montreal, November 20, 2012 – The Conference of Rectors and Principals of Quebec Universities (CREPUQ) is concerned about the short-term impact on the universities of measures contained in the 2013-2014 Quebec budget.

The government has announced that all ministries will have to implement cost-cutting measures in order to meet 2012-2013 spending objectives. These measures will affect research funds and universities, placing the latter in an even more precarious position.

University funding

CREPUQ is pleased that the budget tabled today by the Minister of Finance and the Economy maintains government contributions under the University Funding Plan to cover system costs and reinvestment in university education. At the same time, CREPUQ is concerned that current-year compensation for the cancellation of the tuition hike will be funded within the spending objective of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology. What’s more, the government has indicated that “it could compensate universities for the shortfall stemming from the cancellation of the tuition hike.” These last two points are not in keeping with the firm commitment made last August by the Parti Québécois in its financial framework, under which the universities were to be fully compensated from additional revenues.

Furthermore, the budget unfortunately contains no commitment to compensate the universities for additional costs incurred by the student protests. Research and innovation

CREPUQ is very pleased that the government “wants to make Quebec one of the most innovative societies in the world – a society that allocates at least 3% of its GDP to research and development.” Nonetheless, the spending announced to ensure the transition from the Stratégie québécoise de la recherche et de l’innovation (SQRI) to a new policy on research and innovation is not sufficient to sustain all the activities that were funded under the SQRI. CREPUQ has great hopes for the announcements to be made when the new policy is unveiled.

Finally, CREPUQ wishes to highlight the creation of a matching fund envelope of $125 million over five years to encourage public-private partnerships in the life sciences.

CREPUQ includes all 19 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