Montreal college faces $30 million fines over English-language quota breach
LaSalle College in Montreal was threatened with bankruptcy after Quebec fined it for exceeding the legal limit on English-language courses, but a court order allowed it to continue operating.
Under Quebec’s strengthened language charter, private colleges must ensure that English-language courses do not surpass a quota that varies between 11.7% and 18.7% of total enrolment. LaSalle College surpassed this threshold by 716 students in 2023-24 and by 1,066 the following year, leading the government to impose fines that together amount to about $30 million. The fines threatened the college’s solvency, prompting a week-long suspension of classes and a student rally demanding the right to study.
Director general Claude Marchand, who has led the family-owned institution since 2005, said the lack of a transition period forced the school into an “existential crisis.” On September 4, Justice Martin Castonguay ordered the province to release its subsidies and extended LaSalle’s creditor protection, allowing the new academic year to begin on September 8 while the financial dispute continues.
Why it matters
The case highlights how language policy enforcement can jeopardize private education institutions and affect thousands of students and staff.
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