In 2023-24, the Government of Quebec changed tuition policy and its operating funding in a way that has a significant impact on McGill. In early August, it informed all universities that it was limiting annual funding for capital projects, like construction and renovation. These measures have forced a review of many of the University’s previously approved projects.
To help the community understand the impact of the combined Quebec funding changes, The McGill Reporter spoke with two of University’s academic and infrastructure leaders: Christopher Manfredi, Provost and Executive Vice-President, and Fabrice Labeau, Vice-President (Administration and Finance).
Have all construction and renovation projects stopped?
Fabrice Labeau (FL): We have not stopped all our projects and are trying to continue the construction work underway. But we’re reconsidering any projects not yet in the construction phase. For those due to start soon, we’re re-evaluating, asking if they can wait a year. For projects at the design and planning phase, we are seeing if they can wait even longer. In short, we’re looking at all our priorities.
Is the New Vic project still going ahead?
Christopher Manfredi (CM): The New Vic remains our priority capital project. Under different financial conditions, the University had several big projects in the planning stage, but the New Vic was the top of the list. The design is complete, funding comes from a number of sources, and construction work is well underway.
The New Vic Project is vital for the future of the University. It represents a profoundly different approach to solving complex problems, one based in broad collaboration across disciplines. And that requires a new type of space. The New Vic complex is a unique opportunity: close to our main campus and large enough to allow us to create new, efficient, state-of-the art facilities that will advance the work of our sustainability leaders, across disciplines.
On September 18, Senate was told that the Fiat Lux project, a major renovation of the McLennan-Redpath library complex, was being suspended. Why did the University choose to halt Fiat Lux?
(FL): When the Fiat Lux project was proposed and developed, our financial situation was very different. The Quebec Government’s decisions of the last year led to major changes in both funding and our ability to borrow and repay loans. We are not where we were a year or two ago, let alone five years ago when we started planning the Fiat Lux project in earnest.
(CM): As I said in my spring budget presentation to the community, if we continued with planned spending, we could end up with an $89-million deficit by fiscal year 2028. So we have to rethink how to best support our academic mission in this new reality.
Now that Fiat Lux is suspended, what will happen at the McLennan-Redpath library complex in the short term? How will the needs of students and other library users be met?
(FL): Fiat Lux was focused on the needs of our community, notably the student experience. We’ve gone back to the evaluation of those needs to come up with other ways to improve spaces for library users.
(CM): I know that many staff poured a lot of hard work into Fiat Lux and I want to thank them for their efforts and dedication. The library remains a priority – it plays a huge role in supporting learning and research. The new University Collection Centre in Valleyfield has allowed us to move 2.4 million books into a state-of-the art facility and free up large areas in McLennan. We now have an opportunity to adapt and create more of the spaces that students have been requesting, in a targeted and phased approach.
How are you determining which construction and renovation projects move ahead? For example, why is McGill proceeding with the New Vic when other spaces need major repairs?
(CM): We’ve always had to prioritize. We ask ourselves:
- Is there a health and safety reason for a project?
- How does this support our academic mission? Are there risks to our mission if we don’t do this? Could classes or labs be affected if we delay work?
- Finally, what is the cost of work delayed? Some maintenance gets more expensive over time, not to mention that construction costs keep going up.
(FL): In terms of why we are proceeding with the New Vic instead of putting all of our money into repairs, there are a few reasons. As the Provost said, the New Vic gives us more space and better space for our future needs. We can create new buildings with totally new research and learning facilities. Practically, retrofitting modern labs into existing buildings is more expensive and less efficient. It can lead to delays and bad surprises.
The government’s announcement of a slowdown in funding for construction and renovation projects comes on the heels of other measures that mean less money for McGill. How is the University coping financially?
(CM): The tuition and operating funding measures have had a very important impact on both the University’s operating budget – that is, the funding available for salaries and day-to-day expenses – and our borrowing and repayment ability, major factors for big capital projects.
(FL): As for the slowdown of funding for capital projects – that is, construction and renovation – that’s really a cap on how much we can spend, it doesn’t mean that funding is disappearing. We still have accumulated funding that we were intending to spend in the next couple of years on a lot of infrastructure projects. But we have to slow the rate of spending. Unfortunately, it also means that some projects will become more expensive, because of inflation.
What do you say to the members of the McGill community and students thinking of coming here, who may be worried about McGill’s future?
(CM): McGill is one of the top universities in the world. It has been around for over 200 years, sending forth great minds into all sorts of professional and research areas. Some financial ups and downs are nothing compared to our record and reputation.
Yes, we are going to have some tougher choices to make. Financial difficulties make it more challenging to fulfill our academic mission, but finding solutions and opportunities is what we do.
McGill has every intention of fighting to remain a top university, one whose degrees are valued around the globe. So, I say come to study with us with assurance that a degree from McGill will have the same prestige in five, 10, 50 years as it has had for centuries.