$200 million in cuts to Quebec's public schools by March 2025: the Outaouais far from spared

Mélissa Gélinas

In December 2024, the Quebec government announced a new budget cut of more than $200 million in Quebec's education system for the period ending in March 2025. In the Outaouais, this cut represents a total of $5.5 million for public schools. The announcement has provoked strong reactions in the region's education community.

Several school service centres in the Outaouais will have to make several budget cuts as a result. For example, the Centre de services scolaires des Portages-de-l'Outaouais (CSSPO) will have to reduce its spending by more than $2,164,556.08, which represents 67% of its total budget.

The Centre de services scolaires des Hauts-Bois-de-l'Outaouais will have to cut $324,303.39 by March 2025.

As for the Centre de services scolaires des Draveurs (CSSD), a sum of $2,187,808.57 will have to be saved.

The new government projects that were recently announced for schools, such as adding space, building new facilities, extending existing facilities and adding modular classrooms, will therefore have to be put on hold.

According to Kim Lafleur Lauriault, President of the Outaouais School Support Union, student services will be affected despite the government's assertion to the contrary. “We're beyond worried,” she says. “We were already worried at the beginning of the school year because of the shortage, etc.,” she continues. “Support staff are already in a state of emergency. We are cutting where there is nothing left to cut.”