Quebec Minister Pascale Déry intervened in another Palestinian literature course, stands firm on her decision
Posted February 27, 2025 1:51 pm.
Last Updated February 27, 2025 2:08 pm.
Quebec’s Minister of Higher Education, Pascale Déry, is standing firm, despite new revelations that she intervened in another course on Palestinian literature at Vanier College.
“As I’ve said over the past few days, I’ve been asking questions. I will continue to ask questions. It’s my role, it’s my obligation,” she asserted Thursday during a brief press scrum.
La Presse reported Thursday morning that the Minister had questioned the CEGEP administration about the subject chosen for an English course.
It was also reported that the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) – on which the Minister served from 2016 to 2022 – had attempted to intervene in the content of the same course.
Last week, Minister Déry admitted to having intervened in another course on “Palestinian belonging,” this time at Dawson College. This decision drew criticism from the academic community and opposition parties.
“We know that the climate on some campuses has visibly deteriorated. There have been complaints of harassment and intimidation. My role is to ensure that all students can evolve in a healthy and safe climate,” added the Minister.
Curtailing academic freedom
The situation provoked heated exchanges between Minister Déry and Québec solidaire (QS) in question period on Thursday.
“At a time when her network is suffering, does the Minister really consider that curbing academic freedom should be her priority?” questioned QS MNA Guillaume Cliche-Rivard.
Déry again defended herself, saying she was only doing her job. She accused QS of not being concerned about social peace. “We saw it with Maurice Richard’s MP (Haroun Bouazzi) when he called Quebecers racists,” she quipped.
In December, Minister Déry launched investigations at Dawson and Vanier colleges in the wake of campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The investigations are still underway.
In an investigation by La Presse published two weeks ago, teachers at Dawson and Vanier colleges denounced what they considered to be interference by the Ministry of Higher Education in their institution.
Last week, the Legault government blocked a QS motion calling on “the National Assembly to denounce any political interference in the content of courses in the Quebec college network.”
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
