Lugo government’s program to increase the tuition fees of Quebec’s English-speaking universities

Francois Lugo’s government plans to implement a new program to promote and strengthen the French language. An important part of this plan is dedicated to increasing tuition fees for foreign students and students from other Canadian provinces who intend to attend English-speaking Quebec universities such as McGill and Concordia.

It should be noted that currently half of non-Quebec students study in English-language universities and only 20% of Quebec students attend these universities.

The government also plans to draft a law that would require digital platforms like Spotify and Netflix to offer more content from Quebec and in French. Currently, only 8% of the songs on Quebec Spotify are from Quebec artists.

In total, about 50 different actions are foreseen in this program. The implementation of new French language requirements for temporary migrants such as foreign workers and students, and an increase in the educational curriculum to strengthen French education are other measures of this government program.

The Quebec government says such bold steps are needed to prevent the decline of the use of French in everyday life and business. However, critics argue that some measures may be extreme or even violate individual liberties.