Quebec strikes French-language deal with English universities

Quebec's government has finalized an agreement with the province's English-language universities to increase the proportion of out-of-province students who can hold basic conversations in French by the time they graduate. The deal, spanning eight years, will see the province allocate approximately $20 million per year to institutions like McGill, Concordia, and Bishop's. The initiative aims to ensure that about 60 percent of undergraduate students from outside Quebec possess fundamental French-speaking abilities upon completing their degrees. University officials acknowledge they are currently far from this target but express confidence in achieving it. Higher Education Minister Martine Biron described the voluntary program as a measure to protect and promote the French language within Quebec. The funding will be used by the universities to enhance French courses, immersion activities, and other language-learning opportunities.

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The province says it will provide about $20 million per year to the universities over the next eight years as part of the deal.