In what appears to be a growing crisis for Montreal’s education system, thousands of teachers, school staff, and supporters converged downtown yesterday in what organizers called the largest education protest in recent memory. The demonstration comes as Education Minister Bernard Drainville faces mounting criticism over his handling of sweeping budget cuts affecting schools across the province.
The sea of protesters stretched along René-Lévesque Boulevard, many wearing the now-iconic red squares that have become synonymous with Quebec education protests. Teachers carried signs with messages like “Nos enfants méritent mieux” (Our children deserve better) and “Education cuts never heal.”
“We’re witnessing the dismantling of public education,” said Mélanie Hubert, president of the Fédération autonome de l’enseignement (FAE), which represents 65,000 teachers across Quebec. “These cuts will have devastating consequences for our most vulnerable students, especially those with special needs who already struggle to receive adequate support.”
The protest follows last month’s announcement of a $412 million reduction in education spending, including significant cuts to specialized programs and support services. According to documents obtained by LCN.today, Montreal-area schools will bear a disproportionate burden, losing approximately $87 million in funding.
As someone who has covered Montreal’s education landscape for over a decade, I’ve witnessed cycles of budget constraints, but the scale of these cuts appears unprecedented. Walking among the protesters yesterday, I was struck by the palpable sense of betrayal among educators who had hoped for reinforcement, not reduction, after the challenges of post-pandemic recovery.
“We were promised investments in education during the election campaign,” said Robert Gendron, a high school teacher from Pointe-Claire who has taught for 22 years. “Instead, we’re seeing special education programs gutted and class sizes increasing. How am I supposed to give proper attention to 35 students when many need individualized support?”
The Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), representing over 200,000 education workers, has called for Minister Drainville’s resignation. “His mismanagement and lack of understanding of classroom realities make him unfit to lead our education system,” said CSQ President Éric Gingras during yesterday’s rally.
Parents have also joined the movement, forming solidarity groups across Montreal neighborhoods. “As a parent of a child with learning difficulties, I’m terrified about what these cuts mean for my son,” shared Catherine Lemieux from Rosemont. “The resource teacher who has been crucial to his progress will now have double the caseload. It’s simply impossible.”
The Montreal Teachers Association estimates that approximately 430 specialized education positions will be eliminated across the city’s schools. Meanwhile, the Ministry maintains that the cuts are necessary to address the province’s fiscal challenges.
Minister Drainville defended the decisions at a press conference yesterday, stating: “Difficult choices must be made to ensure Quebec’s financial stability. We’re working to minimize impacts on students while addressing our budgetary reality.”
His statement provoked immediate backlash from opposition parties. Quebec Solidaire education critic Ruba Ghazal criticized the government for “balancing the budget on the backs of children” while Liberal MNA Marwah Rizqy called the cuts “short-sighted and damaging to Quebec’s future workforce.”
School boards are scrambling to adjust. The Centre de services scolaire de Montréal confirmed that 62 special education technician positions will be eliminated, while support for English language learners will be reduced by approximately 30%.
Having visited several Montreal schools in recent weeks, I’ve observed firsthand the anxiety these cuts are generating. At École Saint-Barthélemy in Villeray, teachers were holding emergency meetings to determine how to redistribute resources with fewer staff members.
“We already struggle to meet the needs of our diverse student population,” explained principal Josée Bouchard. “These cuts will force impossible choices between equally essential services.”
Education experts warn of long-term consequences. Professor Steve Bissonnette from TÉLUQ University notes that “reducing specialized support inevitably leads to higher dropout rates and poorer academic outcomes, particularly in disadvantaged neighborhoods.”
According to data from the Institut du Québec, every dollar cut from early intervention programs typically results in $7 in additional social service costs later.
Community organizations are stepping in to fill gaps. The YMCAs of Quebec announced yesterday an expansion of their after-school homework support programs, while Centraide has launched an emergency fund for education-focused community initiatives.
“We’re seeing an unprecedented mobilization across sectors,” noted Chantal Castonguay from Centraide. “But charity cannot replace proper public funding of education.”
As the summer break approaches, union leaders have promised to maintain pressure on the government. “This isn’t over,” warned FAE’s Hubert. “If these cuts aren’t reversed, September will bring even larger demonstrations.”
Minister Drainville has agreed to meet with union representatives next week, but expectations for meaningful compromise remain low. With positions seemingly entrenched on both sides, Montreal’s education community appears headed for a turbulent fall.
For Montreal families planning for the next school year, the uncertainty adds another layer of stress. As parent Marie-Claude Desjardins told me while collecting her children at École Saint-Arsène, “We’re all just holding our breath, hoping our kids’ education won’t be the price paid for political decisions made far from the classroom.”
