On Sept. 28, Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Morton Mendelson published a statement on the McGill Student Accounts website confirming that, in accordance with the Parti Québécois’ (PQ) recent cancellation of the tuition increases implemented by the former Liberal government, the university will return the difference in tuition fees to students.
Pauline Marois’ newly elected government repealed the tuition hikes by decree during its first cabinet meeting on Sept. 20. This move fulfilled a promise Marois made during her election campaign.
However, all Quebec universities had implemented the tuition increase for this fall semester. As a result of the freeze, McGill is expected to lose $90 million over the five years of the original tuition increase, according to a statement from Provost Anthony Masi.
In his statement, Mendelson explained that students’ Minerva accounts will be credited, and afterwards, “students will be able to request refunds according to established practices.” Currently, students may request other refunds through the Student Accounts’ menu on Minerva.
However, Mendelson added that McGill has yet to receive any “official written notification” from the provincial government. According to Mendelson’s statement, McGill is unable to undertake any further action on tuition refunds until the PQ informs the university of the amount of the new tuition rate.
“This is the third time this year that proposed tuition rates have changed,” Mendelson wrote in the statement. “We need to wait for the precise numbers from the government so that we are sure to reimburse students the proper amount.”
The online statement also mentioned the provincial government’s interest in creating “an alternative formula” for calculating tuition adjustments. Despite just having cancelled the tuition hikes, the PQ has recently demonstrated support for indexing tuition to the rate of inflation.
Marois has promised to hold a summit on education within her first 100 days in office, where discussion over the financing of universities will take place, and where the PQ government will suggest a policy on tuition indexation.
Mendelson’s statement also touched upon the slow communication between the PQ government and McGill throughout the past month. According to Mendelson, this delay in the transferring and confirmation of information is one that can be attributed to the current restructuring of the former Ministry of Education, Recreation, and Sport, which is being split into two ministries.
“A senior official in the new ministry responsible for higher education … noted that he understands our impatience to move forward with this matter as soon as possible,” Mendelson wrote. “When we receive our instructions from the government, we will inform students immediately and launch the process of credits and refunds.”
