The Coalition Avenir Québec government proposed a tuition hike for these students, arguing that Quebec subsidizes their education only for them to leave after graduation.
The Coalition Avenir Québec government proposed a tuition hike for these students, arguing that Quebec subsidizes their education only for them to leave after graduation.
Amy Millan, co-lead singer of indie band Stars, has spoken out against the criticism of students from other Canadian provinces who come to Montreal to study at McGill or Concordia University.
Millan, a Toronto native, moved to Montreal in 1994 to study theater at Concordia and has since made the city her home, contributing significantly to its cultural landscape.
Her story is not unique. Many musicians from the indie scene in Montreal share similar journeys. Warren Spicer and Matthew Woodley from Nova Scotia formed the band Plants and Animals after meeting at Concordia. Conner Molander and Dylan Phillips of Half Moon Run, and Claire Boucher, known as Grimes, also moved to Montreal from British Columbia to study at McGill. Natalia Yanchak of the Dears, from the mid-’90s, is another example, having moved to Montreal to study creative writing at Concordia.
“It’s not about what’s best for the students who come here or what’s best for the cultural community. I think it’s something other than that and the students who were planning to move here and suddenly their tuition is gonna be through the roof — they’re just the casualties of political moves,” Yanchak said.
Under scrutiny
This influx of out-of-province students has recently been under scrutiny. The Coalition Avenir Québec government proposed a tuition hike for these students, arguing that Quebec subsidizes their education only for them to leave after graduation. This move, framed as a measure to protect the French language and culture in Quebec, has sparked debate.
Millan counters this perspective, highlighting the contributions these students make to the local economy and culture. She notes that many, like herself, stay in Montreal, start families, and contribute to the province’s economic and cultural richness.
“What I find interesting is that I moved here as a kid to go to university, stayed, worked with my band, it’s a wonderful place to be creative, and it was much less expensive for rent than it was in Toronto. But now I have two children who were born in Montreal and are Québécois. They’re both bilingual,” Millan said.
The indie music scene in Montreal, particularly in areas like Mile End, has been significantly enriched by these artists. Stars, after forming in the late ’90s and initially being based in Toronto and New York City, settled in Montreal in 2001. Millan points out that many of these artists are now integrated into Quebec society, with families and businesses in the province.
Economic impact
The tuition increase has been criticized not only by students and artists but also by local business owners who fear the economic impact. Areas like downtown Montreal and N.D.G., which thrive on the business from students, could be particularly hard hit.
Warren Spicer of Plants and Animals shares a similar sentiment to Millan. Moving from Halifax to Montreal, he appreciated the city’s vibrant cultural scene and more affordable living costs. He notes that his experience in Montreal has been profoundly positive, blending his anglophone background with Quebec’s francophone culture.
Dan Seligman, creative director and co-founder of the POP Montreal indie music festival, also moved to Montreal from Toronto in 1996 to study at McGill. His involvement in the music scene has been substantial, and he views the proposed tuition hike as counterproductive, harming both the cultural scene and the local economy.
“The main reason I went to McGill was to live in Montreal. I visited as a teenager. You could go to bars at 16 and they didn’t card you.
“All these kids are going out, they’re paying taxes on what they buy, and if we reduce (the amount of students) by 20 per cent, (the city) is losing money. And a lot of people end up coming to Montreal and embracing the culture,” he said.
Cultural exchange
These artists collectively represent a significant cultural exchange between Quebec and the rest of Canada. Their presence in Montreal has not only enriched the city’s artistic landscape but also fostered a deeper understanding and appreciation of Quebec’s unique culture. The proposed tuition increase, therefore, is seen not just as a financial issue but as a potential barrier to this cultural intermingling.
While the Quebec government’s intent is to protect and promote the French language, the artists and students argue that their presence in Montreal does more to enhance the province’s cultural richness than to diminish it. They point to their contributions to the local economy, their integration into Quebec society, and the cross-cultural dialogues their presence initiates.
While the Quebec government sees the tuition hike as a necessary step to preserve the French language and culture, many students and artists like Millan view it as a divisive and potentially harmful move. They argue that the cultural and economic contributions of out-of-province students are invaluable and that these students often become permanent, integrated members of Quebec society, enriching it in the process.
