Press Release
University funding: staying the course towards excellence
Montréal, September 6, 2011 – Reacting to today’s announcement by the Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec regarding student debt, Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, made the following statement: “Quebec has debated this question for several years, and the government made the right decision when it chose to uncap tuitions. For us, the debate has taken place, and Minister Beauchamp must not turn back the clock.”
“The Fédération offers no new arguments, and is evading the fact that students are the first to benefit from a quality diploma. A university diploma is an investment, and a loan to pay for one’s education is not a bad debt; on the contrary, it enables a student to obtain a diploma and offers one of the best possible returns on investment. Tuition increases aim to better finance our university system in order to make it more efficient and better adapted to new realities. In the medium term, the goal is to catch up to the Canadian average, while adjusting the loans and grants program to maintain accessibility. The government, with massive reinvestments since 2007, is already doing more than its part; it is now up to the main beneficiaries to contribute their fair share,” added Michel Leblanc.
“Quebec’s competitiveness and productivity rely on universities that strive for excellence, advanced training, and world-class scientific research. In a knowledge economy, going back to the question of tuitions would send a very bad signal to businesses seeking qualified workers or considering investing in Quebec,” concluded Michel Leblanc.
To read all of our position statements on university funding, go to:
http://www.btmm.qc.ca/en/salledepresse
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montréal is made up of some 7,000 members. Its mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and local businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization.
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Source:
Geneviève Jutras
Communications Advisor
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montréal
Phone: 514-871-4000, extension 4042
genevieve.jutras@ccmm.qc.ca