Montreal’s top two English-language universities have decided to drop their legal challenges against Quebec’s increased tuition fees for out-of-province students. This decision comes after Quebec Superior Court Justice Éric Dufour’s ruling in April, which upheld a 33% tuition hike for out-of-province Canadian students while the province reevaluates its policies, though striking down certain aspects of the 2023 tuition overhaul.
Concordia and McGill universities had initiated separate lawsuits earlier in 2024, arguing that the tuition increases were discriminatory and posed financial threats. Concordia spokesperson Vannina Maestracci stated that due to the university’s financial constraints, they will not pursue further legal action, highlighting a projected deficit of $84 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
Similarly, McGill University spokesperson Katherine Cuplinskas emphasized that continuing legal action would contradict McGill’s aim of enhancing local involvement. Both universities expressed intentions to collaborate with the Quebec government to ensure stability and transparency in higher education regulations.
The tuition dispute originated when the Quebec government raised undergraduate tuition for out-of-province Canadian students and introduced new French-language proficiency requirements. Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry defended the move, stating that Quebecers should not be obligated to subsidize education for students from other Canadian provinces.
Following the court ruling, the Quebec government announced it would not appeal and would maintain the tuition increase for a nine-month period while revising the fee structure. The government’s decision was based on the need to protect the French language and comply with the court’s findings.
Despite concerns raised by McGill University regarding the government’s compliance with the court ruling, the universities have opted not to challenge the decision further. The Higher Education Ministry confirmed that universities have been permitted to implement two flat-rate tuition levels for out-of-province Canadian students since the fall of 2024, aiming to reduce the burden on Quebec taxpayers while promoting French language use and vitality among students in the province.