McGill University announced yesterday that it would not reimburse any change in tuition fees until it receives an official directive from the new government.
The Parti Québécois (PQ) won a plurality of seats in the National Assembly on September 4. Last week, PQ leader Pauline Marois promised to abolish the $1,625 increase in tuition proposed by the Liberal government of Jean Charest.
The University said that students could leave the credit on their account for the winter or request a refund through Minerva.
On Friday, Provost Anthony Masi told The Daily that he expected a loss in revenue of $90 million by 2018. McGill’s budget for the 2013 fiscal year – which took into account the tuition hikes – projected a cumulative deficit of $281.9 million for 2013.
Both the Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec (FEUQ) and the Fédération collégiale du Québec (FECQ) hailed the PQ’s decision as a victory for the student movement. The Coalition Large de l’association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante (CLASSE), however, has vowed to remain “vigilant” until the hike is abolished.
“We ask for a meeting with the new government to discuss the current situation and to demand that the [Liberal government’s] promise to increase student loans and bursaries is kept,” a statement on its website read in French.
Under the tuition hike proposed by the previous government, bursaries and student loans were set to expand.