With its outdated and overly permissive laws, the government of Quebec has allowed the unprincipled operation of second language schools that exploit the vulnerability of foreign students.
“In Quebec, it is all too easy to take advantage of international students”, explains Gonzalo Peralta, Executive Director of Languages Canada, adding,” While some provinces corrected the problem years ago, Quebec is unfortunately in last place in this regard. This translates into more and more students getting duped when they come to Quebec.”
A vulnerable clientele
Because they live abroad, international students don’t have an easy way of being represented in Quebec. They don’t speak the language, don’t know our culture and rights, and they are particularly at risk of being exploited by unethical institutions. Even once in Quebec, students do not know their rights or the legal recourses to take when they are wronged.
“If Quebec wants to further attract international students, like the government states, it must fix this problem immediately. Quebec’s reputation on the international scene is suffering greatly and the province struggles to attract its share of students. The lack of fair oversight of schools is the main culprit behind this issue. It is the responsibility of government to ensure the protection of Quebecers and international students and to create an environment that fosters growth and in which we can celebrate and share our culture”, concludes Mr. Peralta.
