Tensions on campuses: Quebec wants to tighten the screw to the Dawson and Vanier colleges

The tensions linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the campuses of the Dawson. Therefore, Vanier colleges highlighted “a series of failures which have deeply undermined the climate in the two colleges”, according to the Minister of Higher Education Pascale Déry, which requests that the situation be corrected.

This public exit from Minister DERY occurs in the wake of the publication of a report after six. Nevertheless, months of investigation in the two Montreal establishments.

The survey made it possible to highlight various issues concerning student associations which would not have complied with their reserve duty. However, complaint management, security, educational services and religious accommodations for studentsindicates the investigation report whose work took place from November 2024 to June 2025.

The report denounces A academic freedom with variable geometrygaps in the supervision of student associations. Moreover, tensions campuses: quebec wants tighten the absence of a procedure in the choice of speakers that can lead to tensions during events. In addition,

These tensions have notably manifested themselves during symposiums. the publication of the student newspaper The Plant [au Collège Dawson]from the vote of a solidarity strike with the students faced with the repression and the “genocide in Gazalists the report.

“Tensions also concern the content of certain courses as well as the encouragement given by certain clubs for the wearing of Keffieh”. a traditional scarf and a political symbol linked to support for the Palestinian cause, it adds.

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The latter also mentions that the two establishments do not entirely respect articles 2 and 3 of the law on the secularism of the State (religious neutrality and equalities of citizens), while CEGEPs and universities are not subject to this law.

The Student Journal of the Dawson College The Plant is also scratched by the report for not having respected certain elements of its constitution. including that of being supervised by a teacher who teaches in journalism.

The number dedicated to the Middle East sowed controversy among students because of Some words. caricaturesand the newspaper would not have opened its pages to students wanting to offer a other point of view that tackled Questions related to anti -Semitismis it written.

We also find in the report a series of recommendations:

• Adopt a law to supervise academic freedom in the collegial education network.
• Update the law on accreditation and financing of students’ or students associations in particular to supervise the duties and responsibilities of associations;
• Review the expected skills of language courses by taking into account departmental responsibilities, academic freedom and the teaching context in colleges;
• Set up the appropriate mechanisms in order to ensure the respect and application of articles 2 and 3 of the law on the secularism of the State;
• Pendant at Dawson College: Ensure that a member of professor staff participates in the editorial team of The Plant;
• Clean at Vanier College: acquiring an official procedure for the choice of guest speakers and themes addressed by the participants.

The Minister had sparked tensions campuses: quebec wants tighten the administrative inquiry in college-level establishments under article 29 of the college. professional education law, following in particular intimidation allegations in connection with the conflict to the Middle East.