Canadian University Students Sound the Alarm on Fees Amid COVID-19

The start of the new academic year is approaching, and university students across Canada are preparing to dive into university life –or rather– an altered university life. Indeed, most classes and services have moved online since March, and many Canadian university students will commence their first semester online as well. Nevertheless, students across the country are claiming that university fees in many post-secondary institutions do not reflect this new online reality, reports Radio-Canada.

Rising University Fees Despite COVID-19 Restrictions

“There has been a 50% reduction in fees for the athletics and recreation centre, simply because most activities will only be available online. But other than that, all overheads and tuition fees are the same, if not higher than last year,” Brooklyn Frizzle, vice-president of Academic Affairs for the McGill Student Association, told Radio-Canada.

McGill University is not the only Canadian institution at the centre of complaints. Many university students across Canada are complaining about excessive university tuition fees, given the mostly online class structure, reduced services and limited campus amenities.

For example, a student at York University calculated that even with reduced university fees, he will spend about $270 this year on the athletics and recreation centre.

Fifi Wei, who is reportedly about to start her first year at Sheridan College, noticed that she will be charged for Sheridan College’s health centre located on campus, even though she will not have access to it.

In Ontario, university tuition fees have been frozen for Canadian students, but not for international students.

“Based on financial projections a few years ago, the university is expected to increase tuition fees by 5.3% for international students,” says the president of the University of Toronto Students’ Association.

Outside Ontario, some universities have outright increased their fees. For example, McGill University tuition has increased since last year. “For us, it’s a 3.1% increase,” Brooklyn told reporters.

Students Launch Class Action Lawsuits Over University Fees

Students from several Canadian universities have introduced online petitions asking university administrations to review the charges included in university fees in light of COVID-19 restrictions.

Other students have also taken action against alleged excessive university fees by commencing class action lawsuits against their post-secondary institutions. Students from 15 Quebec universities have filed a class action lawsuit Canada in May, claiming their schools should refund part of their tuition for the semester disrupted by COVID-19.

The Quebec university class action lawsuit alleges that the cancellation of in-person classes across the province caused students to lose access to essential learning services, like libraries and training seminars, as well as health and sports services.

Another class action lawsuit was filed in Western Canada, against the University of Victoria. The University of Victoria class action lawsuit Canada takes a slightly different angle than the tuition complaints, seeking refunds on behalf of anyone who purchased parking permits that were effective between March 16 and Aug. 31, 2020, when the campus was closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Canadian class action lawsuits over high tuition fees amid COVID-19 disruptions have moved to the private school sector as well. Disgruntled Quebec parents filed a class action lawsuit Canada against all Montreal private schools, from Terrebonne to Candiac, Blainville and Saint-Bruno, over similar excessive fee allegations. The private school class action lawsuit targets some 100 schools attended by about 47,000 students.

In the private school class action lawsuit, the plaintiffs are seeking reimbursements for certain tuition fees due to COVID-19 class cancellations and the reduced “quality” of online classes.

University Fees Charged Unless “Completely Unavailable”

CBC reports that both Concordia and McGill University plan to charge students non-tuition fees unless those services become “completely unavailable” this semester.

“Almost all our existing services continue to be offered through online and phone channels, and in person when possible,” wrote Concordia spokesperson Vannina Maestracci. “We’ve also added new services for the fall created specifically to support students.”

The president of the Quebec Student Union (QSU), Jade Marcil, told CBC that student associations across the province have raised the issue of high university fees amid COVID-19 with their universities to no avail.

“We’re currently asking the university to ask for money from the ministry so it could cover those fees and students wouldn’t have to,” Marcil said. “The ministry has helped universities for other things in the past. If we don’t use a service, we shouldn’t pay for it.”

The QSU had a meeting with Higher Education Minister, Danielle McCann, in July to discuss compensation. The minister’s office reportedly released a statement to CBC News saying it understands students’ concerns and it is  “doing [its] best to make sure they start out their fall semester on the right foot.”

Have you, or your child, been charged regular school or university fees since classes have been moved online due to COVID-19? Do you think Canadian schools and universities should reduce fees to accommodate COVID-19 disruptions? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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