Thousands sign petition asking Quebec to reconsider funding Dawson College expansion

A petition urging the Quebec government to reverse its decision not to allocate $180 million to the expansion of Dawson College has racked up thousands of signatures.

The petition hosted on the Quebec National Assembly website ends Tuesday.

Quebec decided the funds previously earmarked for Dawson would be better spent on the province’s French-language CEGEPs.

BACKGROUND: Quebec cuts funding to Dawson College in favour of French CEGEPS

That decision sparked dismay in the anglophone community and accusations the CAQ government wants to shore up its nationalist base ahead of this year’s election.

Students and staff at Dawson say they are prepared to put up a fight.

“They are essentially using Dawson College to say in Quebec there’s effectively one way that this government believes we should do things, and if other sectors of society are different, operate differently, then in our expectations, they will be defunded or marginalized or outright discriminated against,” said Alexandrah Cardona, the Dawson student union president.

“Students are extremely frustrated. They do feel discriminated against.”

Blending of education and politics

The academic dean of Dawson College says he’s disappointed the move turned political.

“It is quite a shame the to length which politics have intruded into what was a fairly harmonious sector,” said Robert Cassidy. “It’s a real shame in the way that this has driven wedges, and the ways that it will continue to drive wedges is very problematic.”

READ MORE:

• Budget or language? Quebec’s English community upset by Dawson College funding cuts
• Petition asks Quebec to reverse decision not to fund Dawson College expansion
• Dawson College asks to be treated equitably by government

Cardonah echoed those complaints on behalf of the students.

“They’re getting frustrated because they’re waking up and realizing, my education is somehow becoming political,” she said. “And my educational choices have somehow become political. And continuing to stay at the school or graduate from the school is becoming more and more by the day a political decision.

“This is essentially an existential threat to the future generation of prospective Dawson students.”

Expansion of medical technology department

Squeezed for space, Dawson College has for years been planning an expansion of its medical technology department that would include a clinic to serve the community and train its students.

The new building would allow the school to offer a more interdisciplinary approach to medical technology education.

Cassidy says the expansion is absolutely necessary.

“Dawson has been in a space deficit, a very significant space deficit for a long time,” he said. “And it’s not so that we can get more students for sure. Like we’re not planning on having a single more student. In fact, if anything, we’re reducing. But even with those reduced numbers, we’re still in a space deficit. That’s how severe the space deficit has been. It’s the most severe space deficit in the CEGEP reseau (network) and one of the most longstanding space deficits.

“Simply funding Dawson to equitable norms in the CEGEP reseau would’ve led to an innovated approach to training future medical workers but also a medical clinic in downtown Montreal.”

The higher education ministry met with Dawson officials asking them to work on “alternative options” such as renting temporary space — something the CEGEP has been doing.

In the spring, a final decision will be made whether the expansion is a go.

“I always have hope,” said Cassidy. “That’s why I get out of bed in the morning. That’s why I’m in public education. I do think education can change the world, especially public education. And I hope, I hope, I hope, I hope the government will allow us to do that kind of work.”