Education Cuts: An Aggressive Return to Austerity

Ten years after massive cuts weakened our school system, the government is plunging education back into brutal austerity. The recently announced 2025-2026 budget rules are a clear step backwards: fewer services for students, less maintenance of our schools, and less staff support. Our school system is in jeopardy.

A Priority… on Paper Only

Minister Bernard Drainville has made speeches touting education as a priority, but his actions say quite the opposite. Services for students with difficulties are being directly targeted, even though the government has still not followed up on the recommendations made by the Quebec Ombudsman in 2022. As a result, the most vulnerable students are being made to pay the price for these decisions.

Schools Abandoned

The school maintenance budget is literally collapsing: from nearly $1 billion in 2023-2024, it will drop to $483 million this year, before dropping to just $100 million in 2025-2026. A 90% drop in just two years. In concrete terms, this means that only 10% of schools can be repaired. The others will continue to deteriorate, to the detriment of student health and safety.

A Destructive Minister

Let’s be clear: Minister Drainville is not reforming, he is deconstructing. In his quest for power, he is weakening the public system he is supposed to defend. He has lost the legitimacy to lead a ministry as crucial as the Ministry of Education.

Large-scale Cuts

Dozens of school service centers are facing severe cuts, from Pointe-de-l’Île ($41 million) to La Capitale ($28.7 million) and Premières-Seigneuries ($29.5 million). These budget cuts stem from two measures: achieving a balanced budget and optimizing staffing levels. The result: essential positions are being eliminated, especially support staff who work directly with students.

Act Now

There is an online petition on the National Assembly website. It demands that the government reverse the cuts and preserve direct services to students. You have until September 15, 2025, to sign it.