McGill, Concordia dropping legal fight against Quebec over tuition hike

McGill and Concordia universities are backing down from their legal fight with Quebec over its controversial tuition hike for non-Quebec anglophone students.

McGill and Concordia universities are backing down from their legal fight with Quebec.

Both of the post-secondary institutions confirmed on Friday they are no longer pursuing legal action against the provincial government over its controversial tuition hike for anglophone students from outside the province.

Last April, a Superior Court judge ruled the government’s 2023 decision to increase out-of-province tuition by $3,000 — 33 per cent — was unreasonable and “not justified by existing and convincing data.” The measure had a direct impact on Quebec’s largest English-speaking universities.

In his ruling, Justice Éric Dufour allowed the government to keep the increase in place and gave the government nine months to revise its tuition plan. The province has since decided to maintain the tuition hike and provided a justification for it.

In a brief email, Concordia said the university will not be taking the matter to court anymore, given its financial situation. Right now, it’s looking at a $84-million deficit, part of which is attributed to a drop in enrolment following Quebec’s tuition hike.

In a written statement, McGill explained its decision to drop the case.

“While McGill does not believe that the Québec government’s response respects the Superior Court’s April 2025 ruling, the University has concluded, after careful consideration, that further litigation would undermine its objectives of strengthening local engagement and advancing partnerships that contribute to the vitality of the Québec society,” wrote spokesperson Katherine Cuplinskas.

“McGill will continue to work with the Government of Québec to ensure predictability, stability, and transparency in the rules governing higher education.”

Last month, Quebec’s Higher Education Ministry released its budget plan for universities, which included a rationale for raising tuition fees for out-of-province students. The document says the intention is to prevent the studies of non-Quebec students from being “largely subsidized by Quebec taxpayers,” adding that the province provides a preferred rate for out-of-province students who choose to study in French — even if they’re here temporarily — “in order to ensure its vitality as the common language of Quebec.”

McGill said it will continue investing in scholarships and student aid to assist students in their studies.