MONTREAL — More than 7,000 engineering students at Polytechnique in Montreal are set to strike next week in response to the university's decision to phase out grants that help cover education costs. The university has provided these grants since 2014 to assist students with mandatory internship expenses. However, it recently announced that these grants will be eliminated by the winter semester of 2027.

The removal of the grants will significantly impact students, particularly those from outside Quebec. Gabriel Comby, president of the Polytechnique student union, expressed concern about the financial burden this decision places on students. "This money will come from the pockets of students from the regions, whose parents can’t afford to pay for an apartment in Montreal, and who struggle to make ends meet," he stated during a press conference outside the school. He added, "This money will come from the pockets of students who have to line up at food banks every week just to fill their fridge."

The planned strike will take place on September 25 and 26, during which students are expected to boycott classes. A recent strike vote showed overwhelming support, with 93 percent of the 700 participating students in favor of the action.

Zaga Mendez, the youth critic for the Québec Solidaire political party, voiced his support for the students, stating, "An internship should be a key. It opens up doors into the job market, but unfortunately with this type of decision, it will open the door to debt — debt that is growing day by day with the cost of living constantly increasing."

According to the university, Quebec residents will see an increase of approximately $572 in internship fees once the grants are fully phased out. For students from outside the province, as well as those from France and Belgium, the increase will be about $1,856. Comby noted that the union's calculations indicate that by the winter of 2027, fees will rise by 105 percent for Quebec residents and 151 percent for out-of-province students.

Despite the changes, the university will continue to offer internship grants for international students outside France and Belgium, as well as for some students in specialized co-op programs and those approved for optional internships. Pierre Langlois, the director of academic affairs at Polytechnique, clarified, "We aren’t withdrawing the grants across the board."

Langlois also mentioned that students who secure internships independently, rather than through the university's job board, could see their fees reduced by as much as half. He highlighted that students typically earn well during their internships, with an average wage of $24 per hour based on data collected from 2022 to the present. After graduation, students can expect starting salaries averaging around $76,000.

While acknowledging student concerns, Langlois explained that the university's financial situation has changed significantly since the grants were first introduced. "We have big plans for Polytechnique. We’re constantly looking at how we can improve both the education and the experience students get to have here," he said, noting ongoing plans for new facilities, services, and an updated IT system.

Comby countered that the university's ambitions do not align with its financial capabilities. "We are not questioning the fact that internships are a positive thing," he said. "What we are questioning is the approach that was taken, to demand that students complete an internship, while at the same time deciding to double the fees involved. This seems to us to be a somewhat opportunistic strategy."