B I S H O P ’ S U N I V E R S 1I T Y

STUDENTS’ REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL

BOX 3, 2600 COLLEGE STREET, SHERBROOKE QUE., J1M 1Z7

OPINION:
October 23RD 2023
Sophia Stacey, President
Bishop’s University Students’ Representative Council (BUSRC)

The Bishop’s University Students’ Representative Council (BUSRC) unequivocally opposes the
Quebec provincial government’s massive increase to tuition for Canadian out-of-province
students from $8992 to $17000.

On behalf of our diverse student body of 2,650 individuals (with close to 30.0% coming from out
of province) the BUSRC refutes the insinuation that Canadian out-of-province students and
international students contribute less value to the post-secondary education landscape and to
Quebec society at large.

The provincial government has failed to consider the legacy of this proposal on the educational
landscape and on a student’s ability to choose affordable post-secondary education—effectively
undermining the autonomy of young people to determine their future educational path. Pending
approval of this proposal, future students, current students, and university employees alike will
suffer its consequences. The loss of affordable education, and the loss of competitive
opportunities are some of the tangible impacts of this policy, however, what’s ultimately at stake
is the loss of a sense of belonging to Quebec.

We fully accept the importance of protecting the French language. Crucially, Bishop’s is not
eroding the presence of French in Montreal, nor in Lennoxville, Sherbrooke, our home
community. Despite this, Bishop's will bear the most severe consequences of the government’s
proposed policy. The provincial government continuously cites rebalancing the use of the French
language in Montreal as the objective of this policy. However, the government’s hyper fixation
on the linguistic profile of Montreal has ignored Bishop’s University’s long history as a key
educational, cultural, community and economic hub in the Eastern Townships. Despite the small
size and regional location of Bishop’s University, it has contributed to the growth and vibrancy of
Quebec for 180 years. Home to the oldest student association in Quebec, this institution
represents longevity, resilience, hope and ambition. Much of which is at risk with this current
proposal.
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STUDENTS’ REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL

BOX 3, 2600 COLLEGE STREET, SHERBROOKE QUE., J1M 1Z7

We believe that the provincial government's proposal will have the reverse effect on the
protection of the French language and Quebec culture, by limiting its exposure across Canada.

As an out-of-province student, and President of the student body at Quebec’s smallest English-
language university, this issue is a deeply meaningful and personal one. I was raised in Medicine
Hat, Alberta in an English-speaking household 3479 kilometers away from the French heritage
and culture that I have grown to love. At 14 years old, I was motivated to learn French to achieve
my dream of working in politics; I adamantly believed that to be a politician in Canada, I should
speak both official languages. My French teacher nominated me to participate in a cross-country
exchange, which I embarked on when I was 16. My host family in St. Hyacinthe welcomed me
with open arms and those three months were impactful in my decision to return to Quebec. When
I was 17, I applied to all three of Quebec’s English universities, and ultimately chose Bishop’s for
its intimate community, regional location, and to strengthen my French. Mere weeks later, I
moved to a province whose language I was not fluent in, and to a city where I knew no one. Three
years later, not only do I consider myself bilingual, but I have been able to take a step closer to
the world of politics as President of the Bishop’s University Students’ Representative Council,
representing 2650 Bishop’s students from Quebec, Canada, and across the globe. I refuse to stand
by while the provincial government imposes insurmountable financial barriers for prospective
out-of-province students. The government’s belief that this policy makes a greater contribution
than the individual stories of thousands of people like me across Quebec, is a bold one,
considering the lack of research-based evidence to support it.

Considering the serious implications, we call on our elected officials to take the following
actions:

Pascale Déry, Minister of Higher Education, and Jean-François Roberge, Minister of the French
Language, need to re-evaluate the disproportionate impact this harmful policy proposal would
have on the next generation of Bishop’s students, on the longevity of Bishop’s University, and on
equitable access to affordable education within the province of Quebec.

We call on Genevieve Hébert, Member of the National Assembly for Saint François, who has
supported Bishop’s in the past, to stand with us. This proposal will have an enormous impact on
Bishop’s University and her riding, most notably on the Lennoxville economy.
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STUDENTS’ REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL

BOX 3, 2600 COLLEGE STREET, SHERBROOKE QUE., J1M 1Z7

Beyond the provincial government, the Honourable Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of
National Revenue and Member of Parliament for Compton-Stanstead, must evaluate the impact of
this policy on the greater Lennoxville economy, and the message this sends to the English-
speaking communities who have lived here for generations and have felt an immense sense of
belonging to this region. Minister Bibeau, we are asking you to bring the concerns of your
constituency to the federal level, as this is not just a linguistic Montreal issue but an infringement
on an individual’s right to affordable access to education—a portfolio to which the federal
government makes significant contributions.

Despite the current political narrative, it is imperative that Quebec, out-of-province, and
international students feel autonomous, valued, and welcome where they choose to pursue
education, because education is a right for all.

On behalf of the Bishop’s University’s Students’ Representative Council,

Sophia Stacey, President

And in solidarity with our partners, representing 450,633 students and members,

Évelyne Beaudin, Mayor of Sherbrooke

Claude Charron, Borough President, Lennoxville District (City of Sherbrooke)

Jamie Crooks, President of the Association of Professors of Bishop’s University, representing 311
members

Joe Ortona, English Montreal School Board, representing 35,000 schools and 3,000 staff at 80
schools

The Quebec Community Groups Network, representing English-speaking Quebecers and English-
language community organizations across Quebec

Catherine Bibeau-Lorrain, President, Quebec Student Union, representing 94,000 students

Students' Society of McGill University, representing 23,600 students

McGill Post-Graduate Students’ Society, representing 10,000 students

Henry Lee, President, Macdonald Campus Students’ Society of McGill, representing 1,202
students
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STUDENTS’ REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL

BOX 3, 2600 COLLEGE STREET, SHERBROOKE QUE., J1M 1Z7

Macdonald Campus Graduate Students' Society, representing 640 students

Alecsandre Sauvé-Lacousière, Secretary General, Fédération des associations étudiantes du

campus de l'Université de Montréal, representing 40,000 students

James Boudreau, President, Confédération des associations d'étudiants et étudiante de l'Université

Laval, representing 35,000 students

Fédération Étudiante de l’Université de Sherbrooke, representing 15 000 members

Jules Poirier-Ostiguy, President, Association étudiante de l'École des sciences de la gestion,

representing 11,500 students

Gabrielle Crevier, Le Regroupement étudiant de maîtrise, diplôme et doctorat de l’Université de

Sherbrooke, representing 8,500 students

Executive Council, Association Générale Étudiante du campus de Rimouski de l’Université du

Québec à Rimouski, representing 6,700

Loïc Goyette, Président, Association étudiante de Polytechnique, representing 7,200 students

Association générale étudiante de l’Université du Québec à l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue,

representing 5,200

Association Générale des Étudiants hors Campus de l’Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières,

representing 3,500

Association des Étudiants des Cycles Supérieurs de Polytechnique, representing 1,900 students

Sabrina Demers, President, Association Générale des Étudiants hors Campus de l’Université du
Québec à Trois-Rivières, representing 3,500 students

Association Générale des Étudiants de l’Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, representing

11,500 students

Association des Étudiants des Cycles Supérieurs de Polytechnique, representing 1,900 students

Association Étudiante de Cycle Supérieures de HEC Montreal 4,085 students

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STUDENTS’ REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL

BOX 3, 2600 COLLEGE STREET, SHERBROOKE QUE., J1M 1Z7

Annabelle Vellend, Vice President of Internal Affairs, Champlain Students' Association -

Lennoxville, representing 1,287 students

Council of Alberta University Students, representing 114,000 students

Toronto Metropolitan Students’ Union, representing 39,435 students

University of Calgary Students’ Union, representing 26,000 students

University of Lethbridge Students’ Union, representing 8,000 students

University of Fraser Valley Student Union Society, representing 11,000 students

University of New Brunswick Student Union, representing 9,700 students

St. Francis Xavier University Students’ Union, representing 4,500 students