Following the passage of Bill 9 by the Government of Québec in April 2026, Loyola is carefully evaluating how to best preserve its Jesuit Catholic mission, financial sustainability, and commitment to accessibility. Here is a frequently asked questions section to help guide our community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why am I receiving information about this now?

Loyola is currently evaluating how best to preserve its Jesuit mission, accessibility, and long-term sustainability in light Bill 9, which came into effect in Quebec on April 2, 2026.

As part of this process, Loyola's Board of Governors and the Strategic Assessment and Planning Committee of the Board of Governors are gathering input from members of the Loyola community, including parents, alumni, faculty and staff, and friends of the school.

No long-term decisions have been made. This process is intended to ensure that community perspectives help inform future planning and decision-making.

What is Law 9?

Law 9, An Act respecting the reinforcement of laicity in Québec, is legislation tabled by the Government of Québec in November 2025 and adopted in April 2026 that expands the province's approach to secularism and introduces new restrictions affecting publicly funded institutions, including certain private schools.

For faith-based schools such as Loyola, Law 9’s secularism requirements mandate the removal of religious programming and spiritual formation from the regular school day – the very activities that define a Jesuit Catholic education. This would impact our ability to continue offering, among other things, Experience Week, Kairos, and the celebration of mass during school hours.

How does Law 9 affect Loyola?

Law 9 creates a direct tension for Loyola. Remaining within the provincial funding system would require the school to curtail the religious and spiritual programming central to its Jesuit Catholic identity. One path being evaluated is financial independence from the provincial funding system, which would allow Loyola to preserve its mission but would mean the loss of government funding – with implications for faculty and staff pension plans, tuition, financial aid, and the school’s long-term financial model. No decision has been made, and the purpose of the current planning process is to evaluate all options carefully before any path is chosen.

Is independence the only option being considered?

No. Loyola is evaluating a range of possible paths, including seeking accommodations within the existing system, pursuing greater financial independence, or some combination of approaches. The goal of the current process is to assess each option thoroughly before any final direction is chosen.

Is independence the only option being considered?

Financial independence would mean Loyola no longer receives government funding, which currently subsidizes a portion of the school's operating costs. It would also mean the school assumes full responsibility for faculty and staff pension costs that are currently covered through the provincial pension plan – a meaningful addition to operating expenses. The school would need to offset these costs through some combination of tuition, philanthropy, endowment growth, and enrolment.

Independence would also remove the language eligibility requirements that currently govern access to English-language schools under the Charter of the French Language. This would meaningfully expand the pool of students who could choose Loyola, which is an important consideration in the school's financial planning.

We recognize that tuition affordability is the question most families are asking, and we want to be direct: we do not yet have specific numbers to share, because those figures depend on decisions that have not yet been made. What we can say is that preserving access for students from a wide range of backgrounds is not an afterthought in this process – it is one of the central tests against which any path forward will be evaluated.

Is independence the only option being considered?

Regardless of the path Loyola ultimately takes, philanthropy will play an increasingly important role in the school's future – whether to support financial aid, strengthen long-term sustainability, or fund program investments. The survey questions about philanthropic support are intended to help Loyola understand community perspectives on that role. They are not a solicitation for donations.

Why is Loyola conducting a community survey?

The survey is intended to help Loyola better understand:

• Community priorities and values
• Reactions to potential opportunities and challenges
• Perspectives on Loyola's mission and future direction
• Areas of concern that should be considered
• Potential support for future initiatives

The survey is also an opportunity for community members to share their perspectives before decisions are made.

Will my survey responses be anonymous?

Yes. The survey is being conducted by KCI, an independent consulting firm. No names or identifying information are collected. Results will be reported in summary form only, and open-ended comments will be shared without attribution.

Will tuition increase?

Yes, tuition will increase if Loyola becomes independent. The increase is necessary to replace lost government funding, but the scale and timing of any increase have not yet been determined.

Accessibility remains a central consideration in all planning discussions.

What role does financial aid and bursary support play in Loyola's future?

Financial aid has long been an important part of Loyola's commitment to accessibility.

As Loyola evaluates future options, preserving and expanding opportunities for students and their families remains a key priority.

Why is Loyola talking about accessibility?

Accessibility has been a defining part of Loyola’s identity for generations.

Loyola believes that an education here should be accessible to capable and qualified students from a broad range of backgrounds and financial circumstances.

Maintaining and expanding that commitment is an important consideration in future planning.

What is meant by “language eligibility”?

Under the Québec Charter of the French Language, access to English-language education is governed by eligibility requirements. As a result, only students with a certificate of English eligibility are able to enroll at Loyola for as long as it continues to receive government funding.

What happens next?

The Board of Governors will consider the findings of this process, alongside the work of the Strategic Assessment and Planning Committee of the Board of Governors, before any path forward is chosen. We are committed to moving thoughtfully rather than quickly, and to keeping the community informed at each meaningful stage.

Where can I learn more?

Questions may be directed to:

Loyola Communications Department 

communications@loyola.ca 

Additional information and updates will be shared as they become available.