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Commentary, Opinion

Quebec cuts into education in a callous attempt to balance its budget

by Nicolas Costa on

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After large public outcry from various parents’ associations, teachers, and administrators, the Quebec government rescinded the $570 million CAD budget cut it made to education back in June, promising to put $540 million CAD towards student services. Though this attempt at financial redress seems like a genuine commitment to meeting Quebecers’ demands and supporting education, it is simply a perfunctory measure to justify continued austerity measures, further degrading this province’s social programs.

Over the past few years, there has been a steady rise in right-wing populist governments in the United States and Canada, with politicians looking for any way to lower their debt, even if it comes at a great social cost. A striking example of this is the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the United States, a project spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk. Musk established DOGE with the promise to cut $2 trillion USD in fraud, waste, and abuse. Instead, he cut just over ten thousand government contracts without reclaiming even a fraction of the money Musk insisted the government was wasting. Despite the United States’ threats against Canadian territorial sovereignty, the increasingly conservative American political climate is still deeply influential in Canadian public and political discourse, particularly when it comes to investments into education. 

The Coalition Avenir Québec’s (CAQ) commitment to reducing fiscal deficit has fallen similarly on the shoulders of essential social sectors. For many years, Quebec has had thousands of teaching positions vacant at the start of the school year. This isn’t due to a lack of trained professionals, but rather a quick turnover rate in the field: 20 to 30 per cent of teachers change careers within five years. Who could blame them when the government shows such blatant disregard for their profession? In addition, about 10 per cent of teaching staff in Quebec schools do not have a teaching diploma, causing the quality of education to suffer.

Quebec’s $540 million CAD bandaid package also comes with some stipulations—notably that all the money must be spent on student services. To ensure this, schools will have to prove what actions they are taking to reduce their budget, increasing their administrative burdens and further harming their operational efficiency. In making expectations of educational institutions’ budget reporting more strict, the CAQ government problematizes schools’ ability to mobilize their budgets into concrete projects. Although the Quebec Government is restoring the majority of the original budget, these funds are more difficult to access and translate less efficiently into meaningful changes in schools.

Even before financial cuts, education in Quebec faced an extremely tight budget. The government’s further restrictions will disproportionately harm children with learning disabilities. The staff and tools required to address their needs have been particularly targeted by the budget cuts. Schools have a duty to provide an equitable learning environment for all of their students; it is especially crucial to help those with special needs at a young age. 

While the goal of reducing the debt is a noble pursuit, the Quebec government has demonstrated that it is willing to slash crucial spending for public education while spending exorbitantly on other projects. In February 2023, Quebec launched SAAQclic, an online platform for the Société de l’assurance Automobile du Québec which went over budget by $500 million CAD and ultimately failed. Evidently, when it comes to fiscal responsibility, the CAQ government is not only incompetent but entirely inimical to those whose interests they are meant to serve.is not only incompetent but entirely inimical to those whose interests they are meant to serve.

Since the Quiet Revolution, Quebec has prided itself on having strong labour unions and a commitment to social services. It has the highest provincial income tax rate and a large per cent of the money goes to funding public services that benefit all Quebecers regardless of class. Paying these taxes becomes harder to justify once the services citizens receive are a shell of what they once were. Quebec’s debt must be reduced, but it cannot come at the cost of the future generations.

Behind the Bench, Football, Sports

The NFL’s creepy new AI ad is proof the league is out of touch

by Aidan Hotte on

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Fans of the National Football League (NFL) watching the season opener between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4 may have been surprised to see a giant AI-generated baby staring back at them during a commercial break. More shocking, though, is the fact that it was an official NFL ad.

“Ride the Float” is the first advertisement in the NFL’s 2025 season kickoff campaign titled “You Better Believe It.” The ad is a minute long, takes place on an enormous parade float, and is chock-full of celebrity cameos and references to each of the NFL’s 32 teams. On paper, it is a promising concept, with potential to inspire the excitement typical of the football season’s debut. In practice, however, everything about the ad feels kind of… off. 

Whenever a scene in “Ride the Float” includes a crowd of people, the group is composed of faceless humanoids moving in a way that can only be described as inorganic. A giant hovering bear in a Chicago uniform squirms artificially above the float. Most disturbing, though, is the baby. Decked out in full Las Vegas Raiders gear, the infant is so obviously AI-generated that it is easy to forget the ad was produced by a league whose teams are worth $7.1 billion USD on average.

In the NFL’s eyes, however, this strategy is right on target. In a press release accompanying the “You Better Believe It” campaign, Tim Ellis, the NFL’s Chief Marketing Officer, said, “Our fans are at the heart of this campaign — their joy, optimism and belief in what’s possible — and we embraced AI to bring them even closer to the game they love.” 

According to the same press release, the ad’s blend of generative AI and computer-generated imagery was meant to give the NFL’s creative team “freedom to experiment.”

But for viewers, it does not feel like “Ride the Float” delivered anything new, or at least anything that could not have been achieved without AI. Fans’ opinions of the ad were dismal. Claiming that the league used generative AI for “innovation” is, frankly, insulting—watching the ad makes it clear that this was simply a cost-cutting measure. For a league with as much money and popular appeal as the NFL, such blatant dismissal of the idea that fans might want a final product with substance is significant. It implies to viewers that the NFL does not care about them—only about their bottom line.

Aside from its AI use, “Ride the Float” further signals how out of touch the NFL is. In a glossary accompanying the campaign’s press release, the league tries to define the word ‘aura.’ The best definition the NFL can come up with for this intangible, powerful vibe is, “Aura = something you want to have.” If the marketing team had taken five minutes to ask anyone familiar with popular culture at all, they would have come up with a much better definition. 

The NFL’s out-of-touch problem extends further than the campaign. A beloved Sunday tradition for NFL fans is NFL RedZone, a seven-hour nonstop whiparound show covering every game of the day. For years, host Scott Hanson would start the show by saying, “Seven hours of commercial-free football starts now.” That promise has disappeared this year, as ads have begun to infiltrate the program, to the anger and frustration of many. The show is already only available by subscription—starting at $14.99 USD a month—so existing subscribers feel as if any return on investment is going away. As RedZone shows, the NFL is seeking any opportunity it can to monetize the love of the game, and everyone is expected to just accept it.

So, where should the NFL go from here? The answer is simple: They need to listen to their fans. At the end of the day, football supporters are the lifeblood of the league, as in any sport. With fans’ overwhelmingly negative responses to the NFL’s AI-generated ads and RedZone commercials, it is clear the NFL needs to rethink their priorities and start putting viewers first again. 

Horoscopes, Student Life

The Tribune Predicts: Fall horoscopes

by Malika Logossou on

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With the add-drop period ending, the sun setting earlier, and the days getting colder, fall is inevitably on the horizon. While we can’t predict your GPA, The Tribune consulted the stars to see what autumn has planned for you.

Aries (March 21 – April 19): Aries, you will juggle your numerous extracurricular activities like a pro, but that one bird course you thought would be easy will turn out to be a hassle. Prioritize time management, attend office hours, and speak with TAs this fall. It will help you more than you think.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20): The colder days and earlier sunsets will throw you off from your usual rhythm. You might feel like there is never enough time to do everything, but remember that there are only 24 hours in a day. Don’t overwork yourself, and take time to breathe this season.

Gemini (May 21 – June 21): Caffeine and the McLennan Library will be your closest companions. But don’t worry—those long nights spent rereading the same sentence in your textbook for the third hour in a row will (hopefully) generate fruitful results. You’re in for a ride. Good luck!

Cancer (June 22 – July 22): Your work ethic will lead to the discovery of some of the best study spots and hidden gems on campus and beyond. Due to your work load, you might consider dropping out (more than twice), but you’ll also find that new, cozy places across Montreal will save you from spiraling out of control.

Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22): You //love// being right, but this fall, you might have to start questioning yourself. An overly bold email to a professor could be just the tip of the iceberg. Being so sure of everything may cost you a grade, a friend, or something else you care about. Proceed with caution.

Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22): Happy birthday, Virgos! This season, someone new will enter your life, maybe as a study partner at the Nahum Gelber Law Library or a new friend at Bar des Arts. Whether this connection grows into a close friendship or something more, pay attention because it will shape the rest of your year—for better or for worse.


Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 23): You crave balance, but you will find yourself caught in chaos. Expect last-minute schedule changes, late assignment discoveries, and miscommunication with friends. However, things will smooth out towards the end, and this season will have finally taught you to master the art of patience.

Scorpio (Oct. 24 – Nov. 21): Love is in the air for you, Scorpio. Everyone will have their eyes on you, and not because you’re always late to class. Whether you deepen a current relationship, reconnect with someone from the past, or meet someone new, expect attention to follow you everywhere.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21): You will level up professionally this season. Whether you find a job, earn a promotion, or finally join the club you’ve been eyeing, your resume is in for a serious glow-up. 

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19): Like Libras, you can expect change to come fast this season. From unexpected deadlines to extracurricular commitments you forgot you signed up for, you will be forced to branch out of your comfort zone and adapt. Luckily, your natural ambition will help you navigate this season of change with extreme ease.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18): Your social life will boom this season. Between club meetings, family events, parties, and concerts, you’ll barely have time to breathe. Just remember to find time to study. After all, summer is over, and your midterms won’t ace themselves.

Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20): Will you change majors, find a new hobby, or finally let go of something holding you back? Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure: A new beginning awaits you in an important area of your life. 

Commentary, Opinion

McGill’s notice of default with QPIRG demonstrates hostility towards student activism

by Nudara Edirisinghe on

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On Aug. 8, four McGill unions signed an open letter in solidarity with the Quebec Public Interest Research Group (QPIRG) in response to McGill’s notice of default on QPIRG’s Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). In the notice, the university threatened to suspend student funding to the group if it did not retract its support for the Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR). 

In their open letter, the four unions—the Association of McGill University Support Employees (AMUSE), the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill (AGSEM), the Association of McGill University Research Employees (AMURE), and the Association of McGill Professors of the Faculty of Arts (AMPFA)—condemned this notice of default and praised QPIRG for its invaluable contributions to McGill’s community, including its textbook loan program, community research, and affordable programming. Suspending their funding would jeopardize these initiatives, creating disadvantages for students relying on the affordability and opportunities QPIRG provides. 

The open letter raised concerns about the threat to organizational autonomy that the notice of default poses; the termination of QPIRG’s MoA not only demonstrates McGill’s neglect of the group’s crucial role in the uplifting of the McGill community, but also follows a broader pattern of hostility towards peaceful pro-Palestinian activism.

This is not the only time McGill has targeted a student organization for its support of the Palestinian liberation movement. McGill sent a notice of default to SSMU in July 2024, claiming that SPHR—which was then a SSMU-sanctioned club—was violating the MoA between the union and McGill by “intimidating and harassing” community members despite its peaceful protests. In this letter, McGill demanded that SSMU remove SPHR’s status as an official SSMU organization and halt its funding, eventually threatening to terminate SSMU’s contract if they failed to do so. Despite disagreeing with the notice of default, SSMU removed SPHR from its official clubs. This decision was made concerning how the threat of further action would hinder SSMU’s ability to sustain its clubs, services, and members. 

In perhaps its most blatant abuse of institutional power to date, McGill sent a notice expressing intent to terminate its contract with SSMU in April for hosting a three-day strike that called for divestment from companies complicit in Israel’s genocide in Palestine. 72 per cent of voting SSMU members democratically voted for the strike. Although McGill and SSMU restored their MoA following a lengthy mediation period this past summer, threatening to cut ties with SSMU over the student strike is deeply hypocritical. McGill’s blatant pattern of violence against student activism —such as using tear gas against protestors and employing external police forces to dismantle the pro-Palestinian encampment in July 2024—demonstrates a blatant overreach of institutional leverage. 

McGill’s willing and persistent repression of mobilization for—or even association with—the Palestinian liberation movement is deeply concerning, especially when this repression terminates crucial university services. Considering how essential both QPIRG and SSMU are to the McGill community, it is apparent that McGill will stop at no limits to stifle pro-Palestine action among the student body. Its multiple threats to terminate contracts with student-run organizations, simply for affiliating with the pro-Palestine movement unjustly strips these organizations of their organizational autonomy.
Furthermore, McGill’s despotic repression of student movements that do not align with its agenda is alarming. McGill students have historically played a central role in social movements, speaking out against the apartheid in South Africa and the Vietnam War. If student advocacy back then pushed McGill to become the first Canadian university to divest from South Africa, then McGill should treat students’ pro-Palestinian activism with due respect. McGill must rescind its notice of default on QPIRG and allow them to continue to support SPHR and its pro-Palestinian efforts; it is not for them to dictate what their students can or cannot advocate for.

Editorial, Opinion

With far-right extremism on the rise, McGill must actively counter hate

by The Tribune Editorial Board on

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On Sep. 9, white nationalist group the Second Sons announced the opening of a Montreal division. This expansion is part of a rising wave of extremist ‘active clubs’ across Eastern Canada. Framed as organizations propagating a combination of fitness and men’s mentorship, these ‘active clubs’ co-opt medieval aesthetics and martial rhetoric to recruit young men and promote an ethos of nationalism, misogyny, and white supremacy. The group’s rhetoric frames white Canadians as victims of cultural displacement, a narrative rooted in the “Great Replacement” theory, which villainizes immigrants and people of colour. 

This growth is not atypical: neo-Nazi active clubs have increased by 25 per cent worldwide since 2023, with more than 181 active chapters operating in 27 countries, including Canada. The announcement of the Second Sons’ Montreal chapter follows a recent march by a “Canadian men’s nationalist” group, which took place in Ontario’s Niagara Region over Labour Day weekend. 

Resurging white nationalism across Quebec and Ontario poses pressing questions of student susceptibility and institutional responsibility at universities like McGill. Universities are not only targets for recruitment, but also risk becoming complicit in fostering hate when such conversations are presented as innocuous ‘debate.’ These organizations openly encourage violence and target marginalized communities that form much of McGill’s diverse and international student body. While recruitment for these groups often happens off-campus, universities are crucial in shaping whether such rhetoric is normalized or rejected. McGill has previously hosted speakers whose rhetoric dehumanizes entire communities, such as Mosab Hassan Yousef, a former Israeli military informant who has made explicitly Islamophobic statements that frame an entire religious group as expendable. By allowing speakers like Yousef on campus, McGill reinforces extremist rhetoric and signals to socially vulnerable students that dehumanizing communities is acceptable discourse, in turn encouraging these students to delve into hateful extremist ideologies. 

In Quebec, this increase in political and ideological extremism cannot be viewed as an isolated incident. The province’s increasingly conservative political climate—particularly around topics such as immigration and secularism—has enabled policies that disproportionately affect religious minorities. Provincial leaders consistently scapegoat immigrants for social and economic hardships, most notably the housing and healthcare crises. Premier François Legault, for instance, has falsely claimed that 100 per cent of Quebec’s housing crisis can be attributed to immigrants. This environment redirects economic and cultural anxieties away from structural issues and toward scapegoated ‘outsiders.’ Extremist groups exploit this dynamic, channeling public frustration into racialized hostility. By positioning themselves as defenders of ‘heritage’ and masculinity, organizations like the Second Sons weaponize economic hardships—particularly rising living costs—to recruit young men into white nationalist networks. 

The establishment of a Montreal division of the Second Sons only fortifies the immediacy of this risk. If left unaddressed, the rise of white nationalist and extremist groups in Quebec undoubtedly leave McGill students, particularly those who feel socially isolated, amenable to joining hateful networks. In 2020, McGill students attempted to form a ‘White Students Union’ with the baseless rationale that McGill does not serve the interests of white students. This example alone should be a wake-up call for the McGill administration that campus spaces are not immune to white supremacy. 
Universities have a responsibility to provide supportive environments that combat bigotry by offering accessible mental health resources, anonymous peer-support lines, and inclusive social spaces that strongly counteract hateful ideologies. McGill must actively reject hate speech and abolish existing platforms for extremism, and instead foster critical media literacy and community-building. By prioritizing student safety, belonging, and mental health, McGill can prevent far-right radicalization and protect its marginalized communities, all while setting a crucial precedent for other universities, and greater Quebec, to follow suit.

Arts & Entertainment, Internet, Music

VMAs? More like Tate McRae concert

by Olivia Wigod on

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The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) aired on Sept. 7, featuring stunning looks, heartfelt speeches, and star-studded performances. Out of 13 impressive numbers, one stood out from the rest: Tate McRae’s. Her showstopping performance solidified her status as the best dancer in the music industry.

Accompanied by a group of dancers, Tate McRae performed a mashup of “Revolving Door” and “Sports Car,” two songs off her latest album, So Close to What, with choreography by Robbie Blue. The number begins with more conceptual choreography as McRae and her dancers demonstrate their flexibility, contorting themselves into seemingly impossible shapes. It then concludes with a complex dance sequence: McRae steps onto a sand-covered stage, where every movement sends dust scattering artfully around her and her dancers. The VMAs’ performance-heavy format can become tiring to watch, but McRae’s act broke the evening’s monotony, captivating the attention of at-home viewers and celebrities alike. From lifts and splits and fire to sand, she left viewers in awe. 

For those familiar with her background, McRae’s level of excellence was not a surprise: Tate McRae was a household name in the dance world before she became one of today’s rising popstars. As a child, she trained at the Professional Division of the School of Alberta Ballet, one of Canada’s top ballet schools. She holds some of the most coveted titles in the dance world, winning silver at the Youth American Grand Prix  in 2015—the largest ballet competition and scholarship audition in the world. The star also won the American National title of Best Dancer at The Dance Awards three times: As a mini (2013), a junior (2015), and a teen (2018). She even participated in So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation at age 12, placing third against the best of the best child dancers in the United States. As one of the most decorated child dancers in the industry, many view Tate McRae as a dance prodigy.

This professional training was on full display in her VMAs performance last week. While other performances included dances as part of their musical acts, no choreography came close to matching the difficulty and precision demonstrated by McRae and her dancers. Both Sabrina Carpenter and Lady Gaga, for example, performed the viral choreography from their respective music videos. Carpenter recreated the “dance break” in the music video for her song “Tears,” completing a series of jazz-like steps. Similarly, Lady Gaga’s performance incorporated the iconic moves from her music video for “Abracadabra,” which consists largely of upper-body movements to imitate a monster-like figure. When viewing these performances alongside McRae’s, it becomes apparent that Carpenter’s and Gaga’s dances are far more rudimentary. This is not to say that simplicity is bad. In fact, it’s their dances’ simplicity that allows them to become viral trends, as fans can easily replicate the routines. TikTok users, for instance, frequently recreate the dances from both “Tears” and “Abracadabra,” thereby circulating the songs and increasing their popularity. 

While virality is certainly appealing to most artists as it expands their outreach, what makes Tate McRae’s performance stand out is its unachievable nature. McRae’s routine is not something the average person can recreate in their living room without breaking their backs (and probably taking some furniture out with them too). The mastery required for McRae’s performance creates a satisfying contrast to the night’s more basic performances, making her the obvious standout.

Ultimately, 2025 VMA performers like Sabrina Carpenter and Lady Gaga are singers who can also dance. Tate McRae, conversely, is a dancer who also sings. Tate McRae’s performance last week was career-defining as it separated her from other popstars, proving that she is in a league of her own.

Sports

Know Your Team/Tournament Recap: Varsity Golf

by Merce Kellner on

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Earlier this week, the Martlets and Redbirds Varsity Golf Team travelled to La Bête Golf Club in Mont-Tremblant to compete in their second Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) competition of the season. The Redbirds finished fourth out of the nine competing universities in their division, while the Martlets finished third out of six.  

The Redbirds kept pace with the results of their first RSEQ outing in August, with Sept. 9’s successes led by Benjamin Blanshay, who recorded 232 strokes across the circuit. Blanshay was closely followed by his teammate, Adley Abols, who finished with a score of 234. Abols recorded the first and only hole-in-one in Redbirds history last season as a rookie. 

It was also an exciting tournament for the Martlets. Second-year star Astoria Yen had a fantastic outing, finishing the tournament as a co-winner. She shot 233 strokes over three rounds, becoming the first-ever Martlet to achieve an RSEQ podium finish. This accomplishment reflects Yen’s already-strong play this year, as she finished third during the August RSEQ tournament. 

In an interview with The Tribune, Yen described her experience achieving a historic result. 

“I didn’t realize until some of the guys came up to me and told me that [I set a school record],” Yen said. “I was just trying to perform and actually do my best to not look at the scores as I go throughout the day. I cannot do anything to change what has already been shot. I didn’t really realize it was such a big deal until after the fact. It didn’t really hit me until a day ago after the tournament ended.” 

Yen also highlighted the recent success and prominence of the Martlets Golf program. 

“Our girls’ team is really developing right now,” Yen stated. “We went from not having a program to something that [Head Coach] Pierre [Brisebois] has tried really hard to build [and] we saw a lot of potential that helped us secure that third place team title.” 

Redbirds golf captain Camden Purboo, who has also represented Jamaica at the national level, discussed the responsibilities that come with being the captain of a successful McGill varsity team.

“Because, as [Yen] said, it is an individual sport, but we play as a team, [helping them know] that the guy beside you or behind you will play for you [is my role],” Purboo said in an interview with The Tribune. 

Purboo also emphasized the importance of “picking each other up” and preparing for the next hole when a teammate is having a rough day. 

With the Varsity Golf season only being a month long, spanning from August until the end of September, the team is strategic about their training regimen. In a written statement to The Tribune, team member and coach’s assistant Mathieu Sénéchal pointed to the importance of McGill’s golfers working on their mental preparation and gearing up for gameplay scenarios in between RSEQ tournaments.  

Sénéchal continued that when the team is not focusing on the mental aspects of competition play, they travel to La Bête Golf Club, 130 kilometers outside of Montréal, or to a nine-hole course in South Shore. During these sessions, Sénéchal shared that training consists of playing either a nine- or eighteen-hole round, followed by practice on the driving range or short game areas.

“During the rounds, [the] coach comes and sees every player, focusing on different little aspects specific to [individual] needs to get better,” Sénéchal wrote.

With their season ending soon and the RSEQ Championship approaching in less than a week, both the Martlets and Redbirds are in contention for Nationals, and look to excel in the postseason. Sénéchal celebrated the team’s strong and unprecedented season. 

“We have had solid performances from the veterans on the [Redbirds] team, as well as impressive starts from the newcomers, which have put us in this situation,” he wrote. “As for the Martlets, I believe it is one of the strongest teams we have had, and they are showing off their skills quite well. They are determined and focused.” 

It will be exciting to watch McGill’s golf team continue their quest to make school history. 

McGill, Montreal, News

Student unemployment is steadily increasing in Canada

by Asher Kui on

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Desjardins economists Kari Norman, LJ Valencia, and Randall Barlett published a report on Sept. 4 explaining the recent, rapid increase in youth unemployment rates in Canada. The unemployment rate for all youth has increased from 10 per cent in 2022 to 14 per cent in mid-2025. The burden has fallen particularly heavily on 15- to 19-year-olds, with one in five of those willing to work unable to find a job.

Canada’s National Council of Unemployed Workers (NCUW) is an organization working to promote the rights and privileges to which unemployed workers are entitled. Milan Bernard, co-spokesperson of the NCUW and lecturer at the Département de science politique at Université de Montréal, expressed in a written statement to The Tribune that although he has not observed a sharp increase in young people reaching out to the organization, the rising unemployment rate among youth is still concerning.

“We have not seen a difference in the profile of people coming to our offices for help with Employment Insurance (EI),” he wrote. “[Nonetheless], it is alarming to see that unemployment rates are so high for young people. It is not a good sign for the economy.”

The Desjardins report outlined that the youth unemployment rate is now at a level typically only seen during economic recessions. Bernard emphasized how in periods like these, young workers may find it especially difficult to access unemployment resources.

“It is often harder for young workers to qualify to get EI benefits, because of the admissibility criteria,” he said. “It is something that we have called on the government to address, especially in the current context with the [United States] trade war and economic instability.”

In an interview with The Tribune, Caroline Menton, U1 Science, explained that finding a job in Montreal may be especially difficult for anglophone students at McGill because of the language barrier.

“Most entry-level jobs are public-facing, and employers obviously require French for a customer service job,” she said.

Menton also described students’ lack of awareness around and access to McGill resources when it comes to helping youth at the university secure employment.

“I wasn’t even aware McGill offered help with [job searches],” she said. “For any of my friends that were looking for jobs at any point, I never heard them mention using any McGill resources. [….] If anything, [McGill] could advertise those more, if they [even] exist.”

Currently, the McGill Career Planning Service (CaPS) supports students with career advancement and leadership development. Through activities like Career Fairs, workshops, and advising services, CaPS oversees a range of internship, part-time, and full-time opportunities for students in search of employment.

Midnight Kitchen (MK) is a nonprofit collective that works to increase food accessibility on McGill campus and across Montreal. In a written statement to The Tribune, a representative from MK noted that they have observed a recent increase in the number of people attending their programming, though rising youth unemployment is not necessarily a factor.

“Since the University Centre has re-opened, we have seen a large increase of service users,” the representative wrote. “Our service has also expanded with our capacity and outreach over the years.”

MK then mentioned the many other McGill food groups available to support students who are experiencing financial difficulties.

“McGill has been described as a food desert—with limited groceries and affordable food options on and surrounding the campus,” the MK representative wrote to The Tribune. “There are many […] great student food groups looking to build the McGill Food Coalition, an accessible food system at McGill that does not rely on the corporate food services contracted by McGill.”

MK concluded by highlighting how its new structure has been designed in part to help open up more opportunities for unemployed students.

“We know from speaking with students […] that it can be very difficult to find a job for a variety of reasons, such as language barriers, scheduling restrictions, and required experience as the job market becomes more and more competitive,” the representative wrote. “Over the summer we worked on a new structure that would allow for more part-time positions, with some being open only to students. With this new structure, we are able to hire more students, and hopefully increase student engagement.”

Features

McGill Athletics’ great divide

by Clara Smyrski on

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McGill’s sports teams face deep inequalities in funding, resources, and recognition

Few universities can claim to have shaped the global sporting landscape as profoundly as McGill has. Among its crowning sports achievements are the first game of organized ice hockey in 1875, the first game of American football in 1874, and the invention of basketball by McGill alum James Naismith in 1891. Since its inception in 1923, the McGill Athletics Department has overseen the coordination of various sports such as volleyball and rugby. 

These milestones, however, are overshadowed by a longstanding issue. In the 1860s, the university introduced pay-as-you-go sports clubs, where participants were responsible for paying the fees associated with the sport they played. More than a century later, this system persists as athletes are forced to shoulder the costs of competition. 

For as long as McGill has had intercollegiate competition sports teams, it has struggled to fund them. In 1970, McGill was running a deficit of $6 million CAD and threatened to cut sports altogether. However, community outrage led to an agreement between McGill University and the McGill Athletics Department to increase athletic fees so that intercollegiate sports at the school could continue. 

A turning point in McGill Athletics’ Varsity Program came in 1997 when, once again, McGill found itself facing dire budget constraints. At the time, McGill Athletics had a whopping 48 varsity teams and was pressured by the university to establish budgetary measures. These included dropping 22 teams—resulting in the 26-team varsity program we know today—and designating varsity teams into ‘Tier 1’ and ‘Tier 2’ categories. Using this framework allowed the university to manage resources and provide more funds, equipment, and media representation to the higher-tiered teams—a system still in place 28 years later. 

This “new age” of sports is reminiscent of the first years of sports at McGill from a financial perspective. However, this now-not-so-new system comes with several negative consequences, one of the most significant being that the success of a team and the amount of funding and resources they receive are inextricably linked. This undeniably inhibits the growth of some teams in favour of others. Which begs the question: Is it time for the tiered system to be reevaluated? 

As a journalist, unbiased conveyance of the truth is my top priority. However, as a varsity athlete who is a part of one of the most underfunded teams at McGill, it is impossible to write this article without bias. Being a student-athlete at McGill University has shaped both my university experience and who I am as a person. I am eternally grateful for the privilege of playing a sport I love at the collegiate level. However, I am disheartened by the inequality that plagues the Varsity Program.

Today, McGill Athletics oversees 26 varsity teams, 10 competitive clubs, and 3 recreational clubs. Of these 26 varsity teams, 10 teams—five women’s and five men’s—have secured the coveted ‘Tier 1’ label. They are the following: Basketball (W&M), Football (M), Hockey (W&M), Soccer (W&M), Swimming (W/M), and Volleyball (W). This leaves 16 teams to fill ‘Tier 2’: Badminton (W/M), Baseball (M), Field Hockey (W), Golf (W/M), Lacrosse (M), Rowing (W/M), Rugby (W&M), Artistic Swimming (W), Track & Field (W/M), and Cross Country (W/M). There is no public information explaining how sports are assigned to Tier 1 or Tier 2, but we can guess that the most popular are chosen to be Tier 1, while less popular sports are pushed into the shadows. 

McGill Athletics has a difficult job. In a written statement, Stephanie Malley, McGill Athletics’ Senior Communications and Marketing Manager, stated that the organization oversees more than two dozen teams. Many of these teams do not compete or train at the McGill Sports Complex and compete in a variety of leagues, all of which have their own rules and regulations. 

“What is really important to consider […] especially when it comes to funding, is that even though McGill Athletics and Recreation is a self-funded unit, we still face the same financial challenges as the rest of the University. This has meant identifying where monies can be saved and implementing austerity measures when needed,” Malley wrote to //The Tribune//. “The resources needed to properly support a team of, for example, 100 student-athletes versus a team of 20 student-athletes will always be different.”

But can McGill Athletics expect the under-funded teams to grow and perform at the same level as teams that have double or triple the number of resources? And is a two-tier system really the best at fostering a supportive and thriving Varsity Program? 

At a minimum, a team must have the resources to scout and recruit talented rookies, stay healthy throughout the year, have a competent coaching staff, and have adequate equipment to be successful in collegiate-level athletics. To check all these boxes, a team must have sufficient funding and resources. If one of these elements is not up to standard, the whole system falls apart. 

A source on the Tier-1 Redbirds soccer team who wished to remain anonymous disclosed that their team fees average around $180 CAD per year for veteran players and $250 CAD for rookie players. Compare this to the Tier-2 Martlets field hockey team, who pay more than $1,000 CAD per player per year. Though team fees are not publicly posted, nor is there any transparency from McGill Athletics about which teams they fund and which they do not, we can expect this same trend to be true for a majority, if not all, of Tier-1 and Tier-2 teams. Beyond the monetary support, men’s soccer, a team of 31 players, has four coaches, one head physician, one athletic therapist, and four student physiotherapists, while field hockey, a team of 22 players, has two coaches, no physicians, no athletic therapists, and no physiotherapists. There is a difference between efficient resource allocation and disregard for athlete safety. 

Beyond essential resources like physiotherapists and equipment, representation in the media is a powerful tool that can greatly impact the success of a team. Frequent and higher quality media representation means more support from fans and alumni—whether monetary or other—along with more effective outreach for recruitment opportunities. Teams that get more attention tend to attract better players, which leads to greater success and, in turn, more attention. Even via Instagram posts, this difference in treatment between Tier 1 and Tier 2 is evident. McGill Athletics advertises its teams mainly through its Instagram, @mcgillathletics, and news articles on its home page. 

By conducting an analysis of McGill Athletics’ Instagram posts throughout the past year (Aug. 23, 2024-Aug. 23, 2025), some key discrepancies arise. Across 312 posts, teams were featured a total of 353 times, as some posts highlighted more than one team. 242 of these features, equaling almost 70 per cent, promoted the 10 Tier-1 teams. Of these features, Redbirds Football and Redbirds Hockey accounted for 15 per cent each, leaving the remaining 40 per cent to be split among the remaining eight Tier-1 teams. 

A plausible explanation for the differences in media representation among teams of the same tier is program success. It could be assumed that teams that are most successful get more media representation because they have ‘earned it.’ However, this is not the case. Redbirds Football had a record of 3–6 in the 2024-2025 season, while Redbirds Soccer had a 10–7–4 record. Despite this, Redbirds Football was posted 35 times, while Redbirds Soccer was posted only 22 times. Why? When I contacted the media representative who runs the Instagram, I was redirected to Stephanie Malley, who provided no answers.

There are similar discrepancies on the Tier-2 side. Redbirds Rugby and Redbirds Lacrosse secured 20 Instagram posts each, while the next most-posted team, Track & Field, had only 12 features. All three of these teams were fairly successful last season, with records of 6–3 and 11–2, respectively, for rugby and lacrosse, and 2nd (M) and 3rd (W) place finishes in the RSEQ Finals for Track & Field. It is not a question of why these three teams were highlighted. However, the inconsistency is visible with respect to McGill’s Artistic Swim Team, which, despite being second in the nation, had a mere four features on Instagram in the past year. 

In a written statement to //The Tribune//, Artistic Swim Team member Reagan Burgmann, U1 Psychology, shared her frustrations with the lack of support from McGill Athletics.

“We receive absolutely no funding from the school and have to fundraise to pay for equipment, clothing, competition wear, and travel […] We receive little-to-no recognition for our consistent high placement at national competitions,” Burgmann wrote. “We are never delegated to other athletic teams to come help volunteer at our events or support us in the crowd, despite the fact that we are consistently asked to do so for others.” 

She added, “It’s not shocking that a small, niche, female-dominated sport often goes unacknowledged by the athletics committee, but I feel that’s all the more reason to be supporting our team–especially considering our strong reputation within the community.”


This is not a unique experience nor a unique feeling among varsity athletes. The Redbirds Soccer source also shared what he thinks regarding McGill Athletics’ lack of transparency in a written statement to //The Tribune//. 

“One area where […]McGill Athletics really needs to improve is its clarity and transparency around the support and financial funding it provides to different teams […] What really highlights the lack of transparency is that there’s no available information about which sports are in which tiers and why they are there.”

He continued: “[McGill Athletics] must take accountability and be transparent about their decision-making to teams and student-athletes. Otherwise, this lack of transparency only reinforces the idea that McGill doesn’t reward success and is more a game of favorites, ultimately leading student-athletes at McGill to the understandable impression that McGill Athletics is one of the most poorly run university athletic programs in Canada due to a lack of funding, organization, transparency, or a combination of all three.”

If McGill’s own varsity athletes feel they cannot trust their management, a great divide is created, not just between Tier-1 and Tier-2 athletes, but between student-athletes and McGill Athletics themselves. This divide will only continue to foster an environment where players must worry more about how they will afford to pay for their next season than about how to win their next match. The lack of equal media representation will further leave athletes in lower-tier sports questioning why they should even try to improve if they will never get the funding or recognition they deserve.

McGill Athletics must be transparent in their resource allocation and adjust their expectations to reflect the simple and unfortunate truth that funding most often equals success. They must take accountability for their tiered system, which guarantees inequality between teams and will only ever stunt the growth of the program. They must give athletes from //every// sport a voice in the management process. And they must start giving credit where credit is due if they want their Martlets and Redbirds to feel proud wearing a varsity M.

Montreal, News

Quebec’s proposed public prayer ban could decrease inclusivity at McGill

by Eren Atac on

More in Montreal:

The Coalition Avenir Québec announced in late August that it plans to propose a law this fall banning public prayer. Introduced by Quebec’s Secularism Minister, Jean-Francois Roberge, the measure is intended to reinforce the province’s existing secularism laws, including Bill 21, which the government implemented in 2019. The newly proposed regulation would expand on such policies by prohibiting religious practice in public spaces. 

At McGill, where the student population represents a wide variety of religious and cultural backgrounds, community members have raised concerns over the law’s potential effects on practicing religious students. 

In a written statement to The Tribune, Hamza AlFarrash, president of the Muslim Students’Association of McGill University (MSA), expressed concerns over the proposed law’s impact on Muslims at McGill. Although McGill’s campus is not technically a public space, AlFarrash explained that the bill’s broader message would threaten students’ ability to practice their faith in a safe and welcoming environment, especially for those who belong to minority faith communities.

“[The law] risks creating a climate where Muslim students feel singled out, stigmatized, and pressured to hide their prayers—even in semi-public spaces like libraries, cafeterias, or student lounges,” AlFarrash wrote. “Such laws do not just regulate space; they shape perception. By suggesting that prayer is something inappropriate or unacceptable in public, the ban opens the door to confusion, harassment, and discrimination.”

Quebec has pursued a strict agenda of secularism (laïcité) since the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s, when the province initiated efforts to distance public institutions such as schools and hospitals from the Catholic Church. In 2019, the government passed Bill 21, banning public servants, including teachers, judges, and police officers, from wearing religious symbols at work. 

AlFarrash explained that this new bill would severely affect MSA members, who rely on public spaces to carry out their mandatory daily prayers. 

“This proposed law would disproportionately impact Muslim students because of the central role that daily prayer plays in our faith,” AlFarrash wrote. “Unlike many other religious groups whose rituals may be weekly or occasional, Muslim students pray five times a day, often during class hours, which requires accessible and reliable prayer spaces on campus.”

AlFarrash noted that McGill already lacks adequate prayer spaces for its population of over 4,000 Muslim students. There is one designated space in the University Centre, which has a 30-person capacity, while another small space under a stairwell accommodates two. Beyond these, most “designated” areas are multipurpose quiet rooms rather than proper prayer spaces, according to AlFarrash.

For other McGill students, the proposed ban points to broader issues regarding inclusivity and equity in Quebec. In an interview with The Tribune, Kaya Scrivens, U1 Arts, expressed concern that Bill 21 unfairly targets certain religious communities. 

“When you look at how Bill 21 affects people, […] the people who have public religious symbols that are a core part of their religion are mostly Muslim women,” Scrivens said. 

Scrivens added that the Quebec government’s propagation of secularist policies may dissuade prospective students from choosing to attend McGill.

“When deciding what school to go to, [religious freedoms] can be something to consider […] that would affect where you’re going for school and whether or not you’re choosing to come to Quebec,” Scrivens said. “It could be a very big decision that would, for me, make me not want to come.” 

The McGill Media Relations Office (MRO) stated they are aware of the proposed law in a written statement to The Tribune.

“McGill has taken note of the tabling of the report by the Comité d’étude sur le respect des principes de la Loi sur la laïcité de l’État et sur les influences religieuses and is reviewing its contents,” the MRO wrote.

It remains unclear what, if any, response the university will adopt should the law pass in the fall.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees freedom of religion and equality for everyone in Canada. Based on the Charter, a ban on public prayer could face constitutional challenges from civil liberties groups, religious organizations, or directly affected individuals. However, Quebec has historically invoked the Charter’s notwithstanding clause—which allows provincial governments to override certain Charter rights for renewable five-year periods—to protect its secularist laws. Quebec could therefore shield the new public prayer ban from legal challenges if its government decides to reinvoke the clause.

McGill student groups like the MSA are currently calling for the university to stand behind the tenets of equity and civil rights.

“We expect McGill’s leadership to ensure that religious freedom is actively protected as a core element of inclusion and student well-being,” AlFarrash wrote. “This isn’t just about Muslims; it’s also about protecting religious freedom and dignity for everyone on campus.” 

AlFarrash also emphasized how necessary it is for McGill’s community to speak out against Quebec’s proposed public prayer ban.

“We’re calling on all students and staff, regardless of background, to stand with us in defending the principle that everyone should feel safe to live their identity openly,” AlFarrash wrote. “This is not just a ‘Muslim issue.’ If public prayer can be restricted today, then tomorrow it could be another form of peaceful expression.”

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