Dawson and Vanier Colleges Under Quebec's Scrutiny for Student Safety

Photo: Jacques Boissinot The Canadian Press “We know that the conflict in the Middle East generates its share of emotions, but institutions have an obligation to take all necessary measures to ensure a healthy and safe environment for all students,” wrote Minister Pascale Déry.

The Canadian Press

Published at 9:56

• Quebec

Two English-language CEGEPs located in Montreal will be investigated by the Ministry of Higher Education to verify whether they have put in place the necessary measures to ensure the safety of their students in a tense context due to the war in the Middle East.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry confirmed Tuesday morning that she has asked her department to investigate the governance mechanisms in place at Dawson and Vanier colleges.

The goal of this process will be to verify whether the two institutions “have taken all measures at their disposal to guarantee the physical and psychological safety of students.”

On the social network X, Minister Déry maintained that the “climate on certain campuses seems to have deteriorated in recent months.”

She noted that “several” reports have been received at the Higher Education Ministry concerning “discomfort and even insecurity” felt by certain students.

“We know that the conflict in the Middle East generates its share of emotions, but institutions have an obligation to take all necessary measures to ensure a healthy and safe environment for all students,” she wrote.

The climate on some campuses seems to have deteriorated in recent months. Several reports have been received by the Ministry of Higher Education to the effect that students are feeling uneasy and even insecure.
We know that the conflict in the Middle East…

— Pascale Déry (@PascaleDery) December 3, 2024

Ms. Déry did not specify the specific reasons why these two CEGEPs are particularly targeted, but she mentioned “the accumulation of denunciations.”

“The right of students to operate in a safe and healthy environment is non-negotiable,” she said.

In November, a student movement in support of Palestine led to strikes at many educational institutions. Dawson College chose to cancel all classes on November 21, citing “numerous emails and calls from community members expressing concerns about the safety of students and staff” on the day of the strike.