The Future of Vanier; What to expect concerning Bill 96’s Rampage
Ever since Bill 96 was adopted, back in May 2022, the topic has been a source of concern for many Quebeckers. The matter has brought a lot of uncertainty to the halls of anglophone CEGEPS across the province. For the past months, Vanier College has been working hard as an advocate for justice in Bill 96’s application. For this month’s VCSA Insider issue we had the pleasure of interviewing the Director General of our school, John McMahon, in hopes of spreading awareness and conveying the facts to our fellow students about the current situation in which Vanier stands concerning Bill 96’s impositions.
Interviewer: Is Bill 96 going to affect current Vanier Students? Will it affect those graduating this year?
John McMahon: “It may. Right now, it would affect students who change programs. So students who change programs for Fall 2023, once they change programs, the requirements of Bill 96 would apply to them in their new program. That’s what is on the table right now, that’s what the ministry has stated right now. We are working to change that so that [the Bill] will not affect students, but right now the way things are, it would affect students who change programs in Fall 2023. For those students who graduate, no, [Bill 96 won’t affect them]. They’re graduating, they’re fine! And for those students who continue in the same program, no impact.”
Interviewer: How will Bill 96 affect future Vanier Students (students that will be arriving at Vanier in Fall 2023) and will they have to take a French Exit Exam or more french classes, how would that work?
John McMahon: “Yeah, well there’s two categories of students. There are certificate holders and those students are typically from English school boards. Certificate holder means they have the right to an English education. They hold a certificate of eligibility for English education. We call them certificate holders. Then there are non-certificate holders and those are typically students from french school boards, not always, because some certificate holders go to french school boards. Those two categories of students are impacted a little bit differently. There’s two major periods of implementation; Fall 2023 and Fall 2024. In Fall 2023, for the certificate holders, the students eligible for English education, there’s very little impact for them. For the non-certificate holders though, there is an impact, because students who commence with Vanier or any other English College in the Fall of 2023, for them to graduate with a college diploma, they will have to pass the French Exit Exam.”
Interviewer: “As well as the English Exit Exam?”
John McMahon: “No, just one. They’ll only have to pass the French Exit Exam. Instead of having the program that exists now, certain courses will be replaced by other courses in order to prepare them for that French Exit Exam. For example, one complimentary course will become a French Literature course and the two French Second Language courses will become two French Literature courses. And those three Literature courses will be designed to prepare them to write the Exit Exam, the French Exit Exam. And that begins Fall 2023.The following year, in Fall 2024, the students who enter in Fall 2024, now both groups of students will be impacted. The certificate holders will be required to take either three additional French second language courses or three program courses in French. It’ll be an option. For the non-certificate holders, they will have to take three program courses in French, in addition to the courses to prepare them to write the Exit Exam. That begins in Fall 2024.”
Interviewer: “Should current students be protesting against Bill 96 on Campus? How do you think the Vanier College Students Association (VCSA) can help Vanier Students support Vanier students against Bill 96?”
John McMahon does not recommend protesting on campus, but he thinks that “a full understanding of the student body of the requirements of the law, and the bill, is always helpful to stay up to date with what is happening. During the whole process leading to the adoption of the bill, we work closely with the student association. In fact, the student association president was a major speaker at one of the Bill 96 rallies in Downtown Montreal. Students need to be tuned in to what the law is all about, but you know it’s their choice how they protest. We are trying to work on their behalf to make sure [students] are not impacted negatively by the implementation of the bill, as much as possible. “
Interviewer: “Are the voices and opinions of students being heard/considered amid the politicians?
John McMahon: “Since the law has been adopted, there hasn’t really been that much opportunity to voice concerns. Up until the point where the law was adopted, the VCSA, and various student associations, were invited to participate in the hearings. For example, during the hearings, the English colleges also presented their points of view but the students association across Quebec, they expressed their points of view as well, in terms of the law. Since its adoption, there really hasn’t been much opportunity to voice concerns or to provide input, by any of the student associations.”
Interviewer: “Is that something that could be possible for the future maybe?
John McMahon: “It’s possible. I think it would depend on the issue.”
Interviewer: “But would it prevent anything?”
John McMahon: “No. The law is the law, and the law has been adopted. It is part of the new French charter of language. Now we are tasked with implementing the law and this is where we are working hard with the government and with the ministry of higher education in order to implement the law in a way that does not negatively impact our students, faculty and staff, as much as possible.”
Interviewer: “Are any of the teachers and other faculty members’ voices being heard?”
John McMahon: “Yes. They are being heard, but not as loudly as they could be. There are still a lot of concerns we have in terms of the implementation of Bill 96. There are still a lot of unanswered questions that we would like the ministry of higher education and the government to respond to. Whether we are being heard or not is a matter of opinion. If we look at the action that is being taken I think we need to continue to voice our concerns.”
Interviewer: “How will the Bill affect university admissions for the current students?”
John McMahon: “For current students it will not affect university admission at all. Not at all.”
Interviewer: “Will it affect the admissions requirements for future potential Vanier students?”
John McMahon: “We are not anticipating that it will have a significant impact on Vanier admissions. We are full and we are going to be full next year with approximately 6500 students . We are not anticipating, at this point, [that] it will have any adverse impact on admissions, but we’ll have to monitor and track it as we go forward.”
Interviewer: “Where can Vanier students find more information on the changes that will be happening at Vanier College due to Bill 96? What are our resources?”
John McMahon: “In terms of building awareness, the exact interview you’re doing would help students to be aware. There is a lot of information on the government websites in terms of knowledge about the law and its impacts. I think closer collaboration and communication with college administration like myself, we can make sure that students are tuned into the relevant issues that would apply to them.”
Interviewer: “Finally, what message would you like to give to students who are worried, afraid, and or stressed/concerned of the changes that will occur due to Bill 96?”
John McMahon: “First and foremost, to become familiar with what the law is requiring and how, so then they can assess how the law impacts them. As I said, there’s different kinds of students, certificate holders and non-certificate holders. If they are a current student, they will not be impacted unless they change programs. If they are worried about aspects of the law, [I would suggest them] to do some research or [to] speak to people like myself, speak to other student associations to get clarification. [To] stay informed, that would be my message.”
One thing is for sure, Vanier students are in good hands. The community must keep voting and stay involved. Better and promising news is on the way. We mustn’t get discouraged, just yet!
By: Frédérique Dumouchel
