In a new blow to students from India, the province of Quebec in Canada plans to raise university tuition fees and make it mandatory for international students to have an intermediate level of French language proficiency by the time they graduate.
Meanwhile, the province plans to lower fees for students from France, Belgium, and possibly Switzerland, La Presse reported, to attract a larger number of French speakers to Quebec.
Deb Saini, president of McGill University, condemned Quebec’s plan as a targeted attack on the province’s English-language universities. He criticized the proposed tuition increase for out-of-district students, calling it an illogical decision driven by perceptions rather than evidence-based reasoning. Saini expressed concerns about the potential impact on Quebec universities teaching English, hinting at possible measures such as establishing universities outside Quebec or exploring legal options.
Quebec Higher Education Minister Pascal Dery has unveiled a plan to increase tuition fees for out-of-province students by 33%, a smaller jump from the initial proposal to double fees. This adjustment is intended to align fees more closely with the average tuition fees paid by domestic students in Quebec, which is about $6,500.
In addition to increasing tuition fees, the province requires 80% of non-Quebec students to achieve an intermediate level in French after graduation, and has warned of penalties for universities that do not meet that standard. Furthermore, a larger share of international student fees will be redirected to the province, which will then redistribute the funds to French-speaking universities.
Dery stressed that these changes aim to balance funding between English and French universities, reduce Quebec’s subsidies to students from other Canadian provinces, and contribute to the preservation of the French language.
Each year, Quebec welcomes approximately 60,000 international students across more than 700 distinguished university institutions. The province boasts a portfolio of more than 3,000 university programmes, half of which run at master’s and doctoral level, as detailed on the government’s official website.
Over the past decade, the number of international students in Quebec has more than doubled. By December 2022, the province welcomed 58,675 international students, representing a significant increase of 10,000 from the previous year.
The Canadian government recently unveiled stricter immigration measures affecting international students. Effective January 1, 2024, the cost of living requirements for international students seeking study permits will no longer remain at $10,000.
Concordia University President Graham Carr echoed concerns about the potential decline in student numbers and the reputational damage Quebec’s plan could do. Both McGill and Concordia expect significant financial impacts, and McGill is even considering the possibility of cutting up to 700 jobs due to these reforms.
These initiatives are part of Quebec’s broader efforts to protect its French heritage and language, in line with recent legislation making French the province’s sole official language.
After being convicted of drug smuggling, the truck driver flees to India
Authorities in Canada are seeking international assistance through Interpol to locate a truck driver from Surrey who fled to India after being convicted of smuggling cocaine across the US-Canada border. As the Vancouver Sun reported, RCMP have requested a “red notice” to help arrest 60-year-old Raj Kumar Memmi, who was recently sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison. This notice urges global law enforcement authorities to locate and arrest Mohamed, who faces a Canada-wide arrest warrant.
According to sources like The Postmedia, Mohammadi was initially arrested in 2017 with 80 kilograms of cocaine hidden in his truck at the border crossing on the Pacific Highway. Despite his conviction in 2022 on drug trafficking charges, Mohammadi left for New Delhi from Vancouver before his sentencing date in 2023, resulting in him being sentenced in absentia.
Recently, officials from the British Columbia RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency held a press conference, pleading with the public to come forward with any information that would help locate a shelter as part of their ongoing investigation.
© Indian Express Private Limited
First published on: 12-17-2023 at 11:17 IST
Canada has recently made headlines with a series of controversial events, including the implementation of a French language mandate, a significant hike in tuition fees in Quebec, and the escape of a notorious drug trafficker to India. These developments have raised concerns among international students and sparked discussions about language policies and education costs in the country. The growing tensions have captured the attention of the international community, prompting further scrutiny of Canada’s policies and their impact on various demographics.