Concerns arise among LaSalle College students as a looming $30 million fine threatens the school’s future and their own education as the new semester kicks off.
Worried students fear potential school closure or significant tuition hikes due to financial strains, with one student expressing, “I’m worried that either they’re going to shut down the school because of lack of funding or make our tuition much higher, which is obviously going to be higher on everyone,” in an interview with CityNews.
The downtown Montreal institution faces the hefty fine for surpassing the limit of English-speaking students, an issue openly acknowledged by the college. Despite hoping to resolve the matter with the Quebec government before the semester began, no agreement was reached.
Chair of the board and CEO of LaSalle College, Claude Marchand, highlighted the financial impact, stating, “The $8.8 million for last year was the equivalent of 40 per cent of the operating grant, and the amount of 21.1 million dollars this year is over 100 per cent of the operating grant, which leads to the question, how can we operate without those grants?”
Marchand expressed frustration over the lack of understanding regarding the situation, emphasizing the excessive and abusive nature of the fine.
In response to the college’s plea to overturn the enrollment restrictions imposed by the new language law, Marchand remains hopeful for a resolution with Quebec’s Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry’s office.
Minister Déry’s office issued a statement, highlighting LaSalle College’s repeated defiance of the Official Language Act despite warnings and monitoring, stressing the ongoing negotiations and refraining from further comment at this time.
Students finally returned to classes on Tuesday after a delayed start to the fall semester.
