Universities struggle to be heard in Quebec election

On Sept. 1, the Bureau de coopération interuniversitaire (BCI) issued four key demands for Quebec’s October 5 election. Two of them involved money: specifically, the BCI called for increased investments in universities, research, infrastructure and digital transformation.  

According to a Feb. 2026 report by economist Pierre Fortin (updated by the BCI in April), Quebec universities receive almost $1 billion less in structural funding than their counterparts in other provinces.  

University revenue has also declined due to a drop in international enrolment caused by immigration policy changes at both the federal and provincial levels.

READ MORE: Le milliard manquant : une situation critique pour les universités québécoises (in French)

“Quebec universities are working hard to lessen the impact of this underfunding on students, but we simply can’t deliver the same level of services with such a financing gap,” said BCI Chair Christian Blanchette.  

Madeleine Pastinelli, president of the Fédération québécoise des professeures et professeurs d’université (FQPPU), shares these concerns. “We can’t go on pretending that structural underfunding, rising operating costs and shrinking revenue from international students won’t have negative consequences,” she warned. “The work being done in universities reaches far beyond the institutions themselves … It shapes society as a whole and benefits the entire population.”

READ MORE: Where do Quebec’s political parties stand on higher education?

Investing in infrastructure 

According to the provincial budget’s 2026–27 management plan for investment in public infrastructure, 44 per cent of university buildings are in poor or very poor condition. This asset maintenance deficit is pegged at $1.4 billion. 

Yet under the province’s2026–36 infrastructure plan, funding to maintain, repair and replace university infrastructure is set to decline through to 2028–29, after which it will start to increase. “We’re no longer building or expanding; we’re just trying to preserve what we have,” Dr. Blanchette said, adding that he hopes political parties will grasp the importance of the university sector and support it effectively.  

The BCI’s two other demands call for universities to be recognized as strategic partners in developing, attracting and retaining talent, and in shaping public policy. 

Research needs 

On Sept. 9, Acfas staked its position in the electoral campaign by releasing its roadmap for science and research in the province. After consulting with members and organizations supporting emerging researchers and scientific culture, the association issued three priorities and 23 proposals. The objectives are: to elevate science’s role in decision-making; to strengthen the foundations of Quebec research; and to retain talent. 

Among other things, Acfas is demanding more funding to support the next generation of researchers. “The future of science and the advancement of knowledge are at stake,” stressed Executive Director Sophie Montreuil. The organization warns that students’ financial insecurity is causing graduate studies to lose their appeal. 

Nearly half of Acfas’s proposals call for renewed investment in universities and colleges and increased public funding for research. The organization has proposed measures to stimulate French-language research and science, including a minimum funding threshold for research conducted or published in French; an expanded research component in the provincial Programme d’appui à la francophonie canadienne; and support for the discoverability of French-language research. 

Finally, Acfas advocates for an increased role for scientists in public decision-making. It proposes establishing mechanisms for regular dialogue between scientists, public servants and elected officials; and increasing support for research projects carried out in partnership with government ministries. “Public servants and elected officials need to maintain strong ties and ongoing communication with the research community in order to base their decisions on current data and knowledge,” argued Ms. Montreuil. 

In addition to concerns over financing, academic freedom and institutional autonomy remain top-of-mind issues — especially as funding for research and teaching has become increasingly contingent on short-term government priorities. “The university funding model must not hinder free choice in research topics, even if some may seem too niche,” noted Dr. Blanchette. “This freedom is essential for developing the research and education that Quebec will need in the future.”