MONTREAL — The Quebec government doesn’t intend to appeal a Superior Court ruling that struck down its attempt to increase school fees and mandate intensive French language training at McGill and Concordia universities, sources with direct knowledge of the decision have told The Logic.
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Quebec won’t appeal ruling against tuition hike for out-of-province students
Quebec’s attempt to charge out-of-province students more and mandate intensive French courses was struck down in April. The Logic has now learned the government will not appeal.
McGill president Deep Saini said the measures were “catastrophic,” “disastrous” and “a direct attack” on the university. Photo: The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz
MONTREAL — The Quebec government doesn’t intend to appeal a Superior Court ruling that struck down its attempt to increase school fees and mandate intensive French language training at McGill and Concordia universities, sources with direct knowledge of the decision have told The Logic.
Quebec’s attorney general recently informed McGill and Concordia that the government didn’t intend to appeal, according to the sources.
The deadline to appeal is June 9, which is 30 days following the notice of judgment of the ruling. The sources are not being named as they are not authorised to speak to the media about the government’s decision.
Quebec education ministry spokesperson Esther Chouinard didn’t respond to The Logic’s questions regarding the government’s decision. “We will provide an update in due course,” Chouinard said. Concordia wouldn’t comment on the Quebec government’s decision. McGill didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
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The judgement invalidates the government’s tuition increases and French language provisions imposed on McGill and Concordia.
The government enacted tuition increases and French language mandates last year, saying they were necessary to stem the decline of the language in Montreal. Both universities said the measures were unworkable and would crater enrolment and cost them millions of dollars in lost revenue. McGill president Deep Saini qualified the measures as “catastrophic”, “disastrous” and a “direct attack” on the university.
McGill and Concordia filed lawsuits against the government in February 2024. In April of this year, Superior Court Justice Éric Dufour ruled in their favour, deciding that the Quebec government was “unreasonable” in increasing tuition for out-of-province students. The government had argued that this was necessary because those students don’t properly integrate into Quebec society.
The government’s requirement that 80 per cent of out-of-province students attain intermediate French proficiency before graduating was “just as unreasonable,” Dufour ruled.
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Photo: The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz
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