LaSalle College Students Face Uncertainty as Status Changes

Students at LaSalle College in Montreal are grappling with sudden changes to their academic status as the institution attempts to align with Quebec’s language reform mandates. Less than a month before the beginning of classes, approximately 90 students, including those pursuing vocational diplomas known as AEC programs, have been shifted from full-time to part-time status.

Alex Abraham, a 33-year-old student on the verge of entering his final year in network management, expressed his dismay at the college’s last-minute decision. “I was shocked,” he stated, reflecting on the email he received last week. “We all came here with lots of expectations and dreams.” Under the new part-time status, students like Abraham lose access to Canada’s post-graduation work permit and are restricted from working off-campus unless they meet specific criteria. The change would force Abraham to leave the factory job he relied upon for financial stability.

In an official statement, LaSalle College explained that the adjustments are necessary to comply with the Charte de la langue française and the government-imposed quotas on English-language AEC programs. The college’s spokesperson, Caroline Gervais, emphasized that the decision only affects the upcoming fall semester.

Financial Penalties and Compliance Challenges

The landscape for English-language education in Quebec has shifted dramatically following the passage of Bill 96, which imposes stricter enrollment limits. During the 2024-25 academic year, LaSalle College exceeded its enrollment quota for English programs by 1,066 students, resulting in a fine of $21,113,864. This fine compounded an already significant debt of $8.7 million from the previous year, bringing the total amount owed to nearly $30 million. The college is currently contesting these fines in a civil suit in Quebec’s Superior Court.

According to the college’s lawsuit, about 70 percent of students enrolled in English-language AEC programs are from overseas, including Abraham, who learned about LaSalle through an agency while living in India. “The standard of living is good here in Canada compared to India,” he remarked. “We are all putting in the effort to learn the [French] language and also trying to build a career here.”

Despite being aware of the college’s financial challenges, Abraham did not anticipate the abrupt alteration to his full-time status. Gervais explained that various factors, including student performance and altered academic pathways, contributed to the changes. “This does not mean that LaSalle College exceeded its overall AEC quota,” she clarified. “Instead, it reflects the constraints of the respective capacity of AEC and DEC programs within those quotas, combined with scheduling realities.”

Seeking Answers and Support

The office of Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry declined to comment, citing ongoing legal proceedings. LaSalle College indicated that many affected students had either failed classes or changed their academic paths, though neither of these circumstances applied to Abraham. He expressed frustration at being included among those impacted, feeling the decision was arbitrary.

To provide clarity, the college has arranged a meeting for affected students with representatives from Immigration Canada and the institution itself. Abraham is hopeful that this meeting will yield answers to his concerns. “I have the right to know the reason,” he stated. He expressed dissatisfaction with the possibility that the college was simply avoiding further fines. “I am not the reason for the fine. They did the wrong thing; they violated the rule.”

As LaSalle College navigates the complexities of compliance and student needs, the impact on students like Abraham raises significant questions about the future of English-language education in Quebec.