40% of Quebec university buildings in poor condition, government report says

A Quebec government analysis of universities across the province has revealed that many of the institutions are falling apart, with McGill, Concordia and Universit de Montral's campuses among the worst.

The report, obtained by Radio-Canada,discloses that more than40 per cent of the buildings at Quebecuniversities are in poor or very poor shape, with many in need of immediaterepairs.

Quebec estimates those repairs would cost about $1.5 billion,but universityadministrators say theestimate is low, and they're asking the government to help.

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderrehas echoed that, sayingmore needs to be done to protectthebuildings.

"The environment where you study, it's not just resources," he said. "It could mean also where you work, where you live and all that, so if there's some issues we should also focus on that."

McGill tops the list

The study found that73 per cent of McGillUniversity'sbuildings on its two campuses arein poor or very poor shape.

Morty Yalovsky, McGill'sinterim vice-principal,said most of thebuildings were constructed inthe 1960s and 1970s, with several dating back tothe 19th century.

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McGill has taken the necessary measures to ensure the buildings are safe until the repairs are done, Yalovsky said.

"We have scaffolding around many buildings on campus where there is a fear there may be difficulties. Inother buildings you have walls which have been propped up with plywood and other metal-support types of material," he said.

The Strathcona Anatomy and Dentistry Building is just one example: The exterior stonework is damaged, and it is covered in tarps and wooden boards.

The government studygave it a failing grade of E, the worst grade possible.

The Quebec government estimates it will cost $600 million to repair McGill's buildings, but the university estimates it is closer to $1 billion.

"It can no longer just be our responsibility to take care of this," Olivier Marcil, McGill'svice-principal of external relations,told Radio-Canada.

"It has to be a collective concern."

Concordia, U de M buildings also in disrepair

The problems that plague McGill are not uniqueboth Concordia University and l'Universit de Montral arein similar states of disrepair,with more than 60 per cent of their buildings in need ofurgent renovations.

There is construction underway at the Universit de Montral, but repair estimates come in atclose to $285 million.

Louis Sauvageau, who is in chargeof buildings at l'Universit de Montral, told Radio-Canada the university has undertaken the most urgent renovations, but there needs to be more funding.

"It's clear that between the money and the needs,there is a very significant gap," Sauvageau said.

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Results vary across Quebec

The Universit du Qubec network, which includes university campusesacross the province, appears to be in overall good condition. The report gavethe majority of its buildings passing grades.

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Quebec City's Universit de Laval had similar scores, with only about 10 per cent of the 85 buildings ranked in poor or very poor shape.

However, Bishop's University, an English-language university in Lennoxville inthe Eastern Townships, is in desperate need of renovations, with 60 per cent of itsbuildings scoring D or Egrades.

Quebec invests more

HlneDavid, the minister for higher education, saidthe provincial government is increasing funding to universities.

Quebec is contributing$1 billion to universities for maintenance and construction over the next six years. Between 2005 and 2015,it also provided $1 billion.

"When we say that the deficit is$1.5 billion and we invest $1 billion, we're not too far off," David told Radio-Canada.

David also said some money could comefrom the federal government, which promised to set up a$2 billion fund for post-secondary institutions last spring.

"It will allow us to do work," she said.