LaSalle College is expected to resume classes Tuesday, as planned, after the Montreal CEGEP postponed the first day of school – which had been set for Monday – in an effort to pressure the provincial government to reverse its $30-million fine for enrolling too many students in English-language programs.
Last Friday, the college postponed to start of classes in an email to its community members. The campus was still to be open on Monday for students and staff, but no official classes.
In a letter addressed to Premier François Legault, the school’s Board of Director Members expressed deep concern about the future of the institution, which has served Quebec students since 1959.
The letter describes the fine as a threat to the college’s viability.
“These amounts correspond to fines that we consider excessive, even abusive,” the Board wrote. “The situation is causing serious concern within our community. Students are worried about continuing their college education, while employees fear for their job security.”
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The Quebec government imposed limits on the number of students who can be enrolled in English-language college programs as part of a new language law passed in 2022.
The college admits to having exceeded the number of students allowed in its English-language programs for the last two years and has defended its actions, saying that it was impossible previously to abide by the quotas without impacting current and enrolled students.
In the 2023-24 school year — the first year the new limits were applied — LaSalle College exceeded its quota by 716 students and received a fine of $8.8 million. In the most recent school year, the college surpassed its quota by 1,066 students, and was fined an additional $21 million.
The college has asked the Quebec Superior Court to overturn the fines, arguing they are unreasonable.
Both the college and the government accuse the other of not negotiating good faith.
Despite the financial strain, LaSalle College is expected to reopen its doors and welcome students back for the fall semester on Tuesday.
Union representatives are united in calling for urgent government action to reconsider the penalties and ensure the long-term sustainability of the institution.
“[Legault], we firmly believe that your intervention is necessary and urgent,” they wrote in the letter. “Only you can act, and we appeal to your decision-making ability to establish a fair and viable path forward for LaSalle College.”
—With files from The Canadian Press
