CEGEPs and universities want to be exempt from foreign student caps

While accusing the Legault government of sowing “confusion”, Quebec universities, as well as the Fédération des cégeps, are asking not to be subject to Bill 74, which aims to reduce the number of foreign students admitted to the province.

Representatives of Quebec’s higher education establishments will be at the National Assembly on Tuesday, where special consultations on Bill 74 will begin.

Tabled by the Minister of Immigration, Jean-François Roberge, last month, it would allow the government to set ceilings on the number of foreign students that can be admitted to CEGEPs, private colleges and universities, depending on the establishment, but also the region, level of study or program in which they are enrolling.

In the memorandum that they will submit jointly to the parliamentary committee, and of which - has obtained a copy, Laval University, the University of Montreal, McGill University and the University of Sherbrooke are opposed to this idea.

They argue that the contribution of international students is crucial in several chaptersnotably because it allows their master’s and doctoral programs to meet the needs of a highly qualified workforce and develop Quebec’s capacity for innovation.

The attractiveness of Quebec to international students as well as the resulting benefits for society are the result of efforts made by universities for decadesthey write. However, Bill 74 threatens to erase these gains.

By opening the door to a significant reduction, by decree, in the number of international students, this bill could lead to lasting negative consequences for Quebec.

They therefore recommend that universities not be subject to it.

The University of Quebec (UQ) also wishes to be exempt from the reduction mechanism planned by the government. She writes in her memoir that a possible reduction [du nombre d’étudiants étrangers] could lead to major negative consequences on all regions of Quebec as well as on the universities themselves.

In the event that university establishments are not exempt, theUQ pleads for it to be consulted so as to minimize negative repercussions.

The Legault government argues that the bill presented by the Minister of Immigration is part of a desire to reduce the number of non-permanent residents in Quebec. According to the most recent data from Statistics Canada, there are just over 588,000 in the territory, of which nearly 124,000 hold study permits.

It’s too muchconcluded Jean-François Roberge in October. The number of foreign students, which he is committed to reducing, has increased by 140% since 2014.

We understand the need to find the balance by which public services, particularly the health and education systems, as well as the real estate market, can absorb the pressures created by population growth.assure the universities of Laval, McGill, Montreal and Sherbrooke in their memory.

However, international university students, in addition to representing only a small proportion of temporary immigration permit holders issued in Quebec, arrive for the most part alone, in good health (88% are aged 30 and under), and after having demonstrated their financial capacitythey continue. International students therefore do not constitute a significant burden on Quebec public services.

The drop too many

The Fédération des cégeps makes the same observation regarding foreign students who attend the college network.

She will also present a brief on Tuesday, in which she recommends that CEGEPs are exempt from any cap reducing the number of international students.

We understand the concerns of the Quebec government regarding the increase in the number of temporary residents, […] but the CEGEPs of Quebec are not the cause and consider that their efforts must be encouraged and not limitedwe can read in the document, consulted by -.

In an interview, the President and CEO of the Federation, Marie Montpetit, said she noted that the constraints accumulate and harm the college network.

She fears that the bill, which comes on top of the establishment of a moratorium on two permanent immigration programs, sends the wrong message.

We feel a lot of improvisation in this filesaid Ms. Montpetit. On the one hand, we say that we need these international students to meet labor needs in key sectors, […] and on the other side, we add additional constraints.

In its latest Strategic Plan, published last year, the Ministry of Higher Education indicates thatattracting more international students to the province’s French-speaking colleges and universities is a government priority.

This leads to a lot of confusionJudge Marie Montpetit, like universities.

Let us be given oxygen instead of clipping our wings by adding additional constraints to each week since the start of the school year.

To the measures affecting foreign students, it also adds the budgetary restrictions imposed by the government which delay investments in infrastructure, and the freeze on recruitment in the public service which prevents establishments from hiring external candidates. to replace administrative employees.

We understand that there is a difficult budgetary context currently for the government, but governing means making choices, and the choices that are currently being made undermine […] the 48 CEGEPs of Quebecdenounces Marie Montpetit.

It’s an extremely difficult time for the college network right now.summarizes the CEO of the Fédération des cégeps.

She will have the chance to express her point of view during special consultations which will be held for two days, until Wednesday. Minister Roberge said he hoped that Bill 74 would be adopted quickly so that an initial reduction in the number of foreign students would be in effect from the next school year, in September 2025.