On December 30, the Legault government wanted to strike hard. By means of a ministerial decree, the MIFI prohibited a series of private colleges from recruiting new foreign students, citing “questionable practices of recruiting foreign students”.
In fact, Quebec had decided to suspend the reception and processing, until March 31, of requests for Quebec Acceptance Certificates (CAQ), an essential document for studying in the province.
The government wanted to act quickly after a series of CBC news reports that it was a lucrative market for the many private colleges that have massively recruited Indian students in recent years. Prime Minister Legault had claimed that this situation “does not smell good” and had launched investigations.
Finally, faced with threats of legal proceedings, the MIFI decided to partially reverse its decision. According to our information, these establishments targeted by Quebec will once again be able to welcome foreign students.
[Le ministère s’est] committed to resume the reception and processing of temporary selection requests for studies already received from foreign nationals admitted to all the educational establishments designated in the decree [ministériel]
, confirms Flore Bouchon, spokesperson for the Minister of Immigration, Nadine Girault.
The 10 establishments targeted
In total, 10 institutions were covered by the ministerial order of December 30: M College of Canada, Matrix College, Canada College, Herzing College, CDE College, Montreal College of Information Technologies, Higher Institute of Computer Science (ISI), the Gatineau campus of the Universel College, CDI College and the Montreal campus of the Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles.
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A lost legal battle
In reality, Quebec was threatened by several establishments and nothing foreshadowed a positive outcome for the government.
On Monday, the Superior Court of Montreal had already ordered the MIFI to resume processing cases involving the Montreal campus of the Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles, which deals with Matrix College, a private non-subsidized college, to recruit hundreds of Indian students.
In his judgment, however, Judge Gregory Moore referred to possible fraud
and did not question Quebec’s doubts, by mentioning a mistrust
who is not unreasonable
, vis-à-vis Naveen Kolan.
The latter is the founder of Matrix College. He was accused of fraud by the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC) because of his activities, between 2014 and 2016, of recruiting Indian students on behalf of the Lester-B.-Pearson School Board.
However, he clarified, there is no suggestion that the Cégep or its students participate in any fraud
.
CDI College, which has five campuses in Quebec and others in different Canadian provinces, had also taken legal action, before Quebec undertook to reverse its decision.
The Legault government nevertheless maintains that the investigations are still ongoing. According to our information, reports are expected by the end of February.
Subsequently, Quebec did not refrain from revoking teaching permits and toughening the Act respecting private education.
With the collaboration of Daniel Boily
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