Montreal’s LaSalle College gets more time to repay debts amid language fines dispute

Résumé détaillé

A private college in Montreal that is facing $30 million in fines from the Quebec government says it is getting more time to settle its debts with creditors.

MONTREAL - A private college in Montreal that is facing $30 million in fines from the Quebec government says it is getting more time to settle its debts with creditors.

A spokesperson for LaSalle College says a judge has extended its protection from creditors until Jan. 29, 2027.

The Quebec government fined the college under provincial language legislation for having too many students in its English-language programs.

The government also ordered the college to reimburse about $18 million in subsidies from last year, pushing its total debt to close to $48 million.

LaSalle College first requested protection from its creditors in August.

At the time, the school’s director called the fine unfair and unprecedented, suggesting that no company in Quebec could survive such a penalty.

The provincial government imposed limits on the number of students in English-language college programs as part of a new language law passed in 2022.

The school’s spokesperson says students will continue to attend classes and prepare for the winter semester as the dispute with the government plays out in court.

A hearing on the fines is scheduled for Jan. 21 and 22, according to the spokesperson.

Début de l'article, extrait de Toronto Star. Pour lire la suite, ouvrez l'article chez le média.