Written by the Ehcover.ca team
By Mahmadou Bah, student at Collège Supérieur de Montréal and Ehcover correspondent — Montréal, July 29, 2026.
I attend Collège Supérieur de Montréal (CSM), so hearing that our school — and its sister campus, Collège Supérieur de Sherbrooke — could close overnight hit close to home. Here’s what happened over the past two weeks, from widespread panic to a last-minute legal twist.
July 14: the ministry refuses to renew the permits
Quebec’s Ministère de l’Éducation refused to renew the teaching permits for CSM and its Sherbrooke campus. Result: 878 international students suddenly had nowhere to finish their programs. A ministry spokesperson said the decision followed “an analysis of their situation in light of the applicable requirements,” without giving details because of ongoing proceedings.
“We feel like victims”
For many of us, the news felt like a betrayal. My classmate Omar Guemadi summed it up: “As students caught in the middle of all this, we feel like victims. We have sacrificed so much, financially and emotionally… we don’t want those sacrifices to be in vain.” Many of us are only weeks from graduating — “about a month and a half left, maybe two,” as Omar put it.
The problem with a school-specific CAQ
The ministry offered transfers to other designated schools with tuition waived. In practice, it’s complicated:
- Many students hold a “closed” CAQ tied to their original school.
- Switching schools first requires a new CAQ — a slow, uncertain process.
- Then students must apply to Ottawa for a new study permit.
Wahid Megherbi, founder of the Facebook group Les Algériens de Montréal, warned that Quebec risks losing skilled graduates ready for the job market: “Many no longer want to stay in Quebec because the rules change all the time.”
July 28: a tribunal lets classes resume
On Tuesday, the Tribunal administratif du Québec suspended the ministry’s decision, so both colleges could resume classes immediately. Director general Noureddine Hajibi called it “excellent news for our students.” The ministry declined to comment while proceedings continue.
What it means for students
Classes are back — for now. The underlying dispute isn’t settled, and nobody can promise there won’t be another twist before the end of term.
Why the right insurance matters
This showed me how fast an international student’s situation can change. In that kind of grey zone, individual health insurance made for international students keeps a stressful school or permit transition from turning into a financial crisis if a medical emergency hits.
- Individual coverage can stay valid when you change schools, subject to policy terms.
- Suitable plans can meet CAQ and designated-college requirements — confirm for your situation.
- Coverage can include emergency medical care, hospital stays and repatriation.
Plans start from about $770.19 per year (indicative, not a quote).
Let’s find the right coverage
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