Pascale Déry

Court did not overturn tuition increases, says Déry

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

Quebec Education Minister Pascale Déry took to her X account to denounce the media last Tuesday, accusing two newspapers of publishing “misinformation.”

There were at least two reports, last week, indicating that the CAQ would not be appealing the Quebec Superior Court ruling ordering the government to eliminate the 33 percent tuition hike for students from outside Quebec. It is indeed the case that the government had not filed an appeal by deadline last Monday. But that did not mean, Déry said, that the government accepted the decision.

The ministry argues that the April ruling did not take issue with the 33 percent tuition hike itself, but rather with how the government got there in the first place.

“I want to be clear,” Déry said in her X post, “the court did not overturn the increase; we are sticking to the decision. We firmly believe that it is not up to the Quebec government to guarantee financial accessibility to education for non-Quebeckers.”

Last February McGill University and Concordia University filed suit against the Coalition Avenir Québec’s plan to charge out-of-province students higher tuition fees ostensibly to protect the French language and to effectively reduce the number of non-Francophone students in the province. They argued that the government’s plan violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In April, Quebec Superior Court Justice Éric Dufour ruled in the universities’ favours, saying the rise in tuition for non-Quebeckers was “unreasonable,” and that the available data did not support Déry’s position on the ability of non-Quebec students to integrate. He also said that the French-proficiency requirement was “equally unreasonable.”

However, he upheld the government’s rules on funding international students.

Déry continued in her X post: “The judgment not only supports the measure aimed at correcting the financial imbalance between English-speaking and French-speaking universities, it also recognizes the government’s responsibility to take the necessary steps to protect French in Quebec.”

“Regarding the arrangements surrounding knowledge of French for students outside Quebec,” Déry added on X, “we will continue discussions with English-speaking universities over the coming weeks.”

The universities have also chosen not to appeal the ruling. For its part, McGill University issued a statement to The Suburban, saying “The judgment is quite clear. We will abide by it, as we hope others will. We remain committed to maintaining a constructive and respectful relationship with the Quebec government.”

Concordia was not as conciliatory. In a statement emailed to The Suburban, spokesperson Vannina Maestracci says the university was “astonished” by Déry’s comments. “We had hoped that the decision by the Superior Court in April could mark a reset of our relationship with the government. The comments made today by the Ministry – one day after the end of the appeal period – make it clear that this is not the case.” She added that it seems “the government simply plans to come back with a new set of arguments to justify an increase of tuition fees for out-of-province students – which would be inconsistent with the judgment.” n

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Déry orders probe into anti-Israel intimidation at CEGEPs

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry announced Tuesday morning an investigation into whether Vanier and Dawson CEGEPs are taking all available measures to protect students from anti-Israel-related intimidation.

“The climate on some campuses seems to have deteriorated in recent months,” Déry posted on social media.”Several reports have been received by the Ministry of Higher Education to the effect that students are feeling uneasy and even insecure.”

The Minister added that while she knows the Israel-Hamas war “generates its share of emotions, institutions have an obligation to take all necessary measures to ensure a healthy and safe environment for all students.

“Considering the accumulation of denunciations, I officially mandated the ministry to investigate the governance mechanisms in place in the Dawson and Vanier CEGEPs to see if they have taken all the measures at their disposal to guarantee the physical and psychological safety of students.”

Déry emphasized that “the right of students to develop in a healthy and safe environment is non-negotiable.”

Dawson had closed its doors on the day of a recent student strike, during which violence broke out at Concordia University and pro-Israel counter-protesters were given the Nazi salute and told a “final solution is coming.” The CEGEP cited safety considerations for its decision.

Federation CJA and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, in a joint statement, said they were pleased with the announcement.

“CIJA and Federation CJA have been clear that strong measures are needed to protect Jewish and non-Jewish students from extremists who seek to impose their hateful ideologies through intimidation, harassment and violence. We are pleased with this decision and will continue to engage directly with the Ministry and institutions throughout the process.” n

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Déry warns universities not to tolerate hate

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry sent a letter to the heads of universities Aug. 30 calling them to a meeting Sept. 16 to explain their policies and warn them not to tolerate hate and violence on their campuses, especially as the Oct. 7 anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel approaches.

Concordia University is the subject of a lawsuit alleging it tolerated antisemitic behaviour on its campus for months and even years, while an anti-Israel encampment was allowed to remain on the McGill campus for 10 weeks, accompanied by antisemitic chants and graffiti glorifying terrorism.

Déry posted on social media last week that “no one is indifferent to the tragic conflict in the Middle East. However, we cannot tolerate tensions being brought to our campuses through vandalism, intimidation and incitement to hatred.”

She also posted the letter, which says to the university heads that this past summer, “we asked you to share with us the means you have at your disposal to counter bullying, harassment, racism, violence, hatred or any other problem, with the aim of fostering a healthy and safe climate on campuses, and avoiding the excesses that we have witnessed in recent months.

“In light of what we have gathered, you do indeed have various levers at your disposal, such as various institutional policies and, in certain cases, the presence of an interdisciplinary crisis management intervention team. the letter adds. “However, on the eve of the start of the school year and in light of the armed conflict that is still raging in the Middle East, I am very concerned about the climate of tension that reigns on certain campuses. I ask you to be even more vigilant and above all proactive, by better communicating your internal policies and regulations to your entire community and ensuring that they are enforced, where appropriate.”

Dery added that as she has said publicly several times, “our establishments must remain places of exchange, debate and discussion, in a constructive and respectful environment. We will not tolerate any form of hate speech, intimidation, violence and incitement to hatred.

“To this end, I invite you to a follow-up meeting on Sept. 16 to continue discussions to this effect and explore avenues to support your actions. In the meantime, I ask you to send me your crisis management policy or emergency measures plan in the context of cultural tensions and international conflicts, to avoid any overflow on campuses, particularly in anticipation of October 7.” n

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Premier Legault tees off at Meadowbrook Golf Course

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By: Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Premier François Legault has golfed at the Meadowbrook Golf Course — which straddles Côte St. Luc and Lachine, on at least three occasions and as recently as Friday Aug. 2, CSL councillor Mike Cohen revealed last week.

Cohen found out the intriguing news after partaking in the  Côte Saint-Luc Golf Invitational,organized by the CSL council and the city’s Men’s Club.

“When I went to rent my electric cart, I learned that someone who is not known to show much fondness for the anglophone community has come to golf here on at least three occasions this summer, most recently the previous Friday — yes, I am talking about the Premier of Quebec, François Legault,” Cohen wrote on his blog Aug. 6.

The councillor mused as to whether Legault should “organize a golf foursome with Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, D’Arcy McGee Liberal MNA Elisabeth Prass and Mount Royal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather.

“I am shocked the Premier even knows where Côte St. Luc is, although his Repentigny MNA and Minister for Higher Education Pascale Déry lived in our community for many years before moving to Hampstead,” Cohen humorously added.

The councillor said he was told by Meadowbrook personnel that Legault was accompanied by his family and a security detail.

“At least one family member stated that the venue was chosen specifically because it was in an English area where they would not necessarily be recognized. Perhaps Meadowbrook should start asking for certificates of English eligibility to golf? All kidding aside, Mayor Brownstein was golfing with Councillor Dida Berku and former Mayor Robert Libman. They were all quite interested to hear the Premier came to CSL. Our Mayor will indeed formally invite him to come golf with him so they can discuss the Cavendish Boulevard extension and keeping Meadowbrook as green space for eternity.”

Contacted by The Suburban to confirm their willingness to golf with Legault, Brownstein replied, “for sure.”

Berku replied, “of course and we could take him to see Cavendish at the same time,” of course, relating to the long elusive extension that appears not to be a priority for Montreal.

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