By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Education professionals, parents, and union representatives from across Estrie joined forces Thursday morning to denounce sweeping provincial budget cuts they say threaten the stability of the public school system and place vulnerable students at risk.
Held at the Delta Hotel in Sherbrooke, the press conference featured speakers from nine regional associations and committees, who called on the public to pressure elected officials and demand the CAQ government reverse its course.
“This is not about budget optimization or consolidation,” said Geneviève Simon, president of the Comité de parents des Sommets and the regional advisory committee for students with learning difficulties. “We’re talking about a budgetary ‘saccage’—a sabotage. If we accept this, we will be participating in the dismantling of the public education network.”
The cuts come amid an already fragile and underfunded school system, Simon warned. “The government is asking us to adopt budgets that are frankly indecent and disconnected from reality.”
The impacts of the cuts, which amount to more than $40 million in the Estrie region alone, will be immediate and far-reaching, according to those who spoke.
David Raymond, president of the Syndicat de l’enseignement de l’Estrie (SEE-CSQ), said the message from the CAQ contradicts its public commitment to prioritize education. “They’re acting as if education is a superfluous expense,” Raymond said. “These cuts will reduce services to students, especially those who need them most—students with learning difficulties, newcomers, and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
He warned that specialized services such as orthopedagogy will be severely scaled back, meaning many struggling students may be left without support. “It’s unacceptable to think we can continue to do more with less, in a context where needs are growing and resources are shrinking.”
From the administrative side, Alexandre Boutin, president of the Syndicat du personnel technique et administratif (SPTA-CSQ), emphasized the toll on support staff. “Key administrative positions that ensure payroll, transport, scheduling, and disability processing won’t be posted as planned,” Boutin said. “This will create bottlenecks and increase workloads to unsustainable levels.”
Boutin also flagged the expected reduction of special education technicians (SETs), many of whom play crucial roles in de-escalating classroom disruptions. “SETs are often the ones who intervene when a student is in crisis,” he explained. “Without them, not only do vulnerable students suffer, but the whole class is affected.”
Sonia Labrie, president of the Townships Regional Union of Support Staff (TRUSS-CSQ), said the English sector is facing the same challenges. In an interview after the event, she said that despite efforts to soften the blow, the impact on students is unavoidable. “Even if they try to cut where it hurts least, the truth is there will be major consequences,” Labrie said. “After-school tutoring for students with special needs is gone. Extra-curricular sports programs are being eliminated.”
She added that the effects on young children are especially concerning. “In our schools, we had extra staff to help Pre-K students get on the right bus. Those resource people have been cut,” she said. “Now, four-year-olds may be left to navigate that alone.”
Teachers are also struggling to manage the fall-out. “We’re not preparing for back-to-school right now—we’re managing budget cuts,” Raymond said. “And instead of planning classroom strategies, staff are being asked to find money to trim.”
Daniel Guillot of the Association des directions d’établissement en Estrie warned that the three pillars of education—instruction, socialization, and qualification—are all under threat. “Specialized classes may not open. Students may be placed in inappropriate settings. Parascolaire programs that foster belonging and motivation are on the chopping block,” he said.
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