Election of Christine Fréchette – Renting Schools: Not a Good Idea

Éric Pronovost, President of the Fédération du personnel de soutien scolaire (FPSS-CSQ), welcomes the election of Quebec’s new premier, Christine Fréchette, and acknowledges her openness to listening. He also urges her to exercise caution regarding certain proposed solutions in education. “She faces significant challenges, and I am sure she will take the time to consult thoroughly with those in the education system. Above all, we hope she will recognize that renting schools is not a good idea,” says Éric Pronovost.

An Attractive Model on the Surface, But Risky in Practice

The proposal to make the government a tenant of privately built schools may seem innovative at first glance, but a more in-depth analysis reveals significant financial and organizational risks.

Unlike public construction, where the government retains ownership of its infrastructure, the rental model involves payments over several decades. The result: taxpayers bear not only the construction costs, but also the developer’s profits, financial interest, and management fees. In the long run, the bill can be significantly higher for the same school.

Loss of Control and Less Flexibility

Privatizing schools also means relinquishing some control over essential elements, such as maintenance, renovations, and certain building-related decisions. Long-term contracts, often 25 to 30 years, also limit the school system’s ability to adapt quickly to the changing needs of students and staff.

“A school is not simply a building. It is a living environment and an essential public service. It cannot be managed solely on a financial basis,” emphasizes Mr. Pronovost.

Costly Examples in Other Places

Experiences elsewhere with public-private partnerships (PPPs), particularly in Ontario and the United Kingdom, raise concerns. Several analyses have shown that these projects often lead to cost overruns, linked in particular to private financing, profit margins and the complexity of contracts.

In the United Kingdom, some schools built under the Private Finance Initiative model ended up costing two or three times their initial estimate. High fees for minor modifications have also been documented, illustrating the rigidity of these agreements.

The Real Issue: Public Underinvestment

The FPSS-CSQ believes that resorting to private investment does not solve the underlying problem: the chronic lack of public investment in school infrastructure.

More than half of Quebec schools are in need of significant renovations, while there is a deficit in public infrastructure maintenance of almost $40 billion. The school condition index shows a marked deterioration over the years, with a significant proportion of schools in poor condition.

A Breath of Fresh Air?

Based on her speech last Sunday, this new mandate seems to be starting with a breath of fresh air. The Premier clearly expressed her desire to reduce the financial burden on Quebec families, particularly by addressing the cost of groceries, while also focusing on structural investments in health and education. Mr. Pronovost reiterated that “it is essential to invest in education, to work collaboratively with network partners and other ministries, and we hope to see concrete actions for school support staff,” a crucial lever for meeting current challenges and preparing for the future.

Genuine Investments in Education

“The problems related to insufficient funding cannot be solved by limiting budget increases to inflation. We must invest more to meet the critical needs of the education system,” continued Éric Pronovost.

He called on the government “to prioritize sustainable solutions, strengthen the role of the state in managing school infrastructure, and invest massively to ensure quality learning environments for all Quebec students.”