Parents, students, and school staff in Montreal came together outside Quebec’s Ministry of Education offices on Sunday to protest the Coalition Avenir Québec government’s education budget reductions. The group, armed with drums and horns, urged the CAQ to allocate more funds to schools and rethink their funding strategies. Marc-Édouard Joubert, representing the Montreal FTQ Labour Council, criticized the government for treating education as merely a “spending item,” emphasizing the negative impact on students, especially those with special needs.
The demonstrations, which began in June following Minister of Education Bernard Drainville’s announcement of $570 million in cuts, have persisted throughout the summer. In response to backlash, the government added $540 million to the education budget with specific conditions, including directing the funds solely towards direct student services and requiring expenditure reduction efforts from school boards and service centers.
Uni-es pour l’École, the organization behind the protest, highlighted concerns about staffing cuts and questioned the government’s investment choices, particularly in light of recent financial issues like the Northvolt battery plant and SAAQclic. They emphasized the importance of education in fostering societal equality and citizenship.
Similar protests took place in Gatineau and Chicoutimi on the same day. Geneviève Potvin Simon, a parent organizer, expressed worries about increased bureaucracy and funding restrictions driving families towards private education, potentially weakening the public system. Ryan Moon from the Fédération des professionnels union echoed the urgent need for increased funding across all education levels, citing the rise in students with special needs and financial challenges faced by institutions like CEGEPs.
Moon highlighted the financial strain on CEGEPs due to declining international student enrollment and inadequate government subsidies. Additionally, the federation noted issues such as a hiring freeze, limited paid hours, and restricted infrastructure investments, exacerbating the education sector’s challenges. Despite Drainville’s office claiming increased investments in education compared to previous administrations, protestors and union representatives stress the ongoing funding gaps and urge the government to prioritize education in the upcoming decisions.