Advertisement

CAQ has new ideas about how to finance Quebec universities

QUEBEC CITY – At a pre-session caucus meeting in Quebec City, the young party presented the fruit of its reflection on one of the most polemic issues in Quebec Monday: higher education.

“Right now some students pay 10 per cent, some others pay 40 per cent [of their education]. We want to bring that back to 15 – 20 per cent, ” explained Legault.

The CAQ is proposing two solutions. First, that tuition fees be modulated depending on fields of studies, meaning social sciences students could pay less while medical students would see their bill go up.

Story continues below advertisement

Second, Legault says some universities, such as McGill University, Université de Montréal and Université Laval, should be allowed to charge more to attract quality staff and compete internationally. Other smaller universities would not be given the same privilege.

Quebec education

“We have to allow research universities to increase their tuition fees in order to keep these universities competitive with the best,” says Legault.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Critics worry this would create a two-tier education system, with universities for the rich and universities for the poor.

The PQ minister responsible for higher education did not want to comment on the CAQ proposal.

The province will hold a Summit on Higher Education in mid-February.

Sponsored content

AdChoices