I had a dream of pursuing my graduate studies in Quebec. I have taken French classes throughout high school and at UFV, and have always seen the pursuit of learning our other national language as a noble one. I envisioned myself immersed in Québécois culture, exploring a new province, and feeling connected to all the different ways of being Canadian. I was willing to put myself out of my comfort zone to pursue a bilingual program, and I decided this in part out of respect and curiosity for Quebec.
I’ve heard the common cracks about the Québécois government — they want to separate, they think they’re better, yadda yadda — but I have always found their commitment to their culture admirable. As a child of immigrants, I have experienced how the dominant culture can rapidly usher in assimilation. Fighting for language and tradition, whether Québécois or Stó:l? Halq’eméylem, is vital to the lives and fulfillment of its people. Half the reason I wanted to study in Quebec was to feel a sense of national identity. Not to mention the opportunities to have a more well-rounded perspective on Canada’s ever-changing cultural landscape and work within the government. (Pension, anyone?)
Well, those dreams feel as if they’ve been crushed, as Quebec announced a tuition hike for out-of-province Canadians in October. Previously, universities in Quebec were charging all Canadian students the same prices, around $8,992 in tuition. Following this new funding policy, the minimum tuition fee for anglophone Canadians is $17,000. The cost of Canadian education is one of the biggest barriers to access for young Canadians with over 79 per cent of students finding the financial burden debilitating, giving rise to many Canadian students considering dropping out before completing their studies. If the complications of higher tuition for international students are any example, every province should be working towards breaking down these barriers to access, not making them higher.
The Quebec government proposed this policy to protect the French language, but it feels a lot more like gatekeeping. English universities in Quebec, namely McGill, Concordia, and Bishops are outspoken about the detriment this policy would be to their student culture, enrolment rates, funding, and jobs. The potential impacts on McGill include a major drop in enrolment, $94 million in revenue lost, and 700 job cuts. McGill is considered to be one of Canada’s best universities, ranking 31st worldwide. It is also one of Canada’s cheapest universities.
While tuition rates continue to rise for Canadian universities it feels almost criminal to hike the cost up for the rest of the country, against the wishes of the students and the universities themselves, under the assumption that anglophone students threaten francophone culture. I’d assume most students, like myself, who wish to pursue studies in Quebec are curious and open — not something that needs to be safeguarded against.
While Quebec has rejected negotiations from McGill, Bishops, and Concordia, they say they are open to continuing the discussion. With a petition with over 15,000 signatures and a number of student protests, there is a small glimmer of hope that students with the same desires as me will be able to attain a post-secondary education at a reasonable price while immersing themselves in Canada’s national language. If you feel strongly about protecting access to education for Canadian students, consider signing the petition.
Kiara Okonkwo is a writer and creative. She received a diploma in Screenwriting from Vancouver Film School and is pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Media and Communication Studies. Kiara values self-expression and authenticity.
