Clarification on the Premier’s Comments Regarding Bishop’s University

The Principal and Vice-chancellor of Bishop’s University, Dr. Sébastien Lebel-Grenier has issued the following statement following the Premier’s comments today:

“This afternoon, Premier François Legault made a statement at a public event held at the Université de Sherbrooke that has led to some confusion in the media. Here is what he said:

        « Vous allez me permettre de saluer Geneviève Hébert, on est chez elle, donc c’est la députée. C’est pas vrai qu’elle veut fusionner l’Université Bishop’s avec l’Université de Sherbrooke. 

       Par contre, elle s’est battue dans les dernières semaines pour que Bishop’s soit exemptée des nouvelles mesures. Parce que oui, il y a des inquiétudes à y avoir sur l’avenir du français à Montréal, mais j’ai pas d’inquiétudes pour ce qui est de Sherbrooke. »

• Excerpt from : https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=841262321114038

Although this is not a formal announcement of a definitive decision on the tuition hikes for out-of-province students that were announced last October 13, it lines up with what the Premier and Minister Déry have been publicly and privately saying since, namely that Bishop’s and its approximately 800 Canadian out-of-province students are not a threat to the vitality of the French language in the Eastern Townships and that special measures are warranted for Bishop’s.

While this is reassuring and positive for our institution, I stress we are still awaiting a final decision by government.”

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MEDIA INQUIRIES:

Sonia Patenaude
Communications Manager – Bishop’s University
819-342-2587 | sonia.patenaude@ubishops.ca