McGill, Concordia react to Quebec government’s plan to limit international students
Posted August 21, 2024 10:46 am.
Last Updated August 21, 2024 6:35 pm.
Montreal’s English universities are reacting to the Quebec government’s plan to limit the number of international students in certain schools.
Quebec Premier François Legault announced Tuesday his government will table new legislation this fall to cap the number of foreign students at certain schools, to stop what he called “abuses” at some institutions.
The premier offered few details and would not say whether English universities in Montreal – McGill and Concordia – would be targeted by the bill.
In a statement to CityNews Wednesday, a representative for McGill said, “we trust that institutions which have consistently engaged in ethical and sustainable recruitment practices, will not be the focus of the proposed legislation.”
Legault indeed said he was “not thinking about McGill or Concordia” when he spoke of “abuses,” but added more discussions needed to be had about those universities in particular.
McGill says international students provide a “tremendous value” to research and the province’s economy.
“We remain firmly committed to attracting, supporting and retaining the best and brightest talent,” the university added.
There are some 120,000 international students in Quebec.
“We are confident the Quebec government will recognize the crucial importance of these contributions, as well as the complexity of the processes involved in attracting, selecting and hosting international students, when developing any future legislation.”
McGill is asking to be consulted by Quebec Minister of Higher Education Pascale Déry.
WATCH: Quebec to put freeze on temporary foreign workers in Montreal
Concordia University meanwhile said it could not provide a comment because it did “not have further details than what was said at the (Quebec government) press conference.”
Concordia says it’s already dealing with the impacts of Quebec’s controversial tuition hike for out-of-province and international students.
“What I can tell you is that we have already had a decline in our numbers of international students last year and are expecting a more important drop this fall, with about minus-10 per cent for undergraduate students at this date, compared to 2023.”
Breaking down the cap on international students
Although the details on what Quebec is planning to introduce in a bill are not yet known, Montreal immigration lawyer says she is not surprised that Quebec is moving to introduce its own cap on international students.
“We are seeing a general trend from the federal and the provincial government in terms of reducing the number of temporary foreign workers and students in Canada,” she said. “The federal government has announced a similar policy in terms of reducing the overall cap of international students in Canada.
“I am surprised of the lack of cooperation between the two levels of governments.”
–With files from The Canadian Press
