L'idée d'université
Troisième partie. L'émergence des universités 1853-1919
11. Gouverneurs de McGill. Juridiction fédérale sur les universités
18 décembre 1866
Résumé
Avec les années 1860 prend progressivement forme le projet d’unifier les colonies britanniques d’Amérique du Nord, dont le Canada-Uni, la Nouvelle-Écosse, le Nouveau-Brunswick et l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard. Des conférences réunissant des délégués des colonies ont lieu à Charlottetown en septembre 1864 et à Québec le mois suivant. Les délégués élaborent un certain nombre de principes et d’orientations qui prendront leur forme finale dans l’Acte de l’Amérique du Nord britannique de 1867. Les débats constitutionnels doivent résoudre de nombreuses questions suscitées par la perspective de l’union de colonies ayant chacune son histoire, son identité et son autonomie. L’une des questions les plus compliquées est celle de l’éducation parce qu’elle met en cause les droits et les acquis des communautés religieuses et linguistiques. Ainsi, dans la partie du Canada-Uni qui deviendra le Québec, les anglo-protestants sont numériquement minoritaires et ils sont préoccupés de préserver leurs institutions d’éducation en regard du partage des compétences entre le gouvernement fédéral et les futures provinces. Le 4 décembre 1866 s’ouvre à Londres une nouvelle conférence constitutionnelle au cours de laquelle les délégués des colonies (Canada-Uni, Nouvelle-Écosse, Nouveau-Brunswick) et les représentants du gouvernement britannique s’emploient à résoudre les difficultés qui subsistent dans la voie d’une union fédérale des colonies britanniques d’Amérique du Nord. Le 18 décembre 1866, les gouverneurs de l’Université McGill adoptent le texte d’une requête à la reine Victoria dans laquelle ils demandent que, dans la future union canadienne, la juridiction sur les universités revienne au gouvernement fédéral. Plusieurs arguments sont invoqués à l'appui de leur requête. D’une part, il est souhaitable qu’il y ait, dans toute l’Amérique britannique, des normes communes pour la reconnaissance des diplômes universitaires. D’autre part, il faut prévenir la « multiplication indue » d’universités. Mais, surtout, les gouverneurs de McGill veulent être protégés contre les actions possibles de la majorité de la future province de Québec et, rappelant que leur université n’a pas bénéficié du soutien financier public qui a été assuré à celles d’autres colonies, ils expriment leur désir de jouir d’un tel soutien qui serait sans doute mieux garanti par un gouvernement fédéral à majorité anglo-protestante. Ainsi, près d’un siècle avant que le rapport de la commission Massey-Lévesque ne vienne légitimer l’intervention du pouvoir fédéral dans le financement des études supérieures, l’idée se cristallise que les universités doivent pouvoir compter sur le soutien de cet ordre de gouvernement.
Note de l’éditeur
Source : Archives de l’Université McGill, Board of Governors’ Minute Book 1829-1871, 28 janvier 1867.
Texte intégral
1To the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty:—
2The Memorial of the Governors, Principal and Fellows of McGill College, Montreal,
3Humbly Sheweth:—
4That in prospect of the changes contemplated in the political constitution of Canada, the Corporation of McGill College, the oldest University in this country, and the most important educational institution pertaining to that portion of the population of Lower Canada which is of British origin, desire humbly to present the following statement respecting the condition and prospects of education.
5Under that provision of the resolutions agreed to at the Quebec Conference, which leaves the entire control of education with the Local Governments and Legislatures, unless adequate guarantees be introduced into the Imperial Act, one of the most momentous interest of Your Majesty’s subjects in this country will be subject to local views and feelings, and will be deprived of those enlarging and improving influences which are anticipated from the union of the Provinces.
6With regard to University education, it is much to be desired, that, as far as possible, there should be a uniform standard for degrees; and that the degrees of any University in British America, should be recognised throughout the whole Confederation; and, also, that the undue multiplication of Universities, which has become so great an evil in some parts of these Provinces, should be arrested. These most desirable results can, in the opinion of Your Majesty’s memorialists, be secured, only by vesting in the General Government and Legislature an effective control over these important interests.
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7Your Majesty’s memorialists desire also to represent, that while in other colonies munificent endowments have been made, out of the public domain, for institutions of higher education, no such grants have ever been made in Lower Canada; and that while our fellow-subjects of French origin have enjoyed the benefits of large endowments in land, given before the conquest, and which, in some instances, would have been forfeited but for the liberality of the British Government, the Protestant population of Lower Canada have been placed in an exceptional position of disadvantage; and that had it not been for the endowment by Mr. McGill, and the liberal contributions of other benefactors, they would not have had access to the benefits of a collegiate education, except in institutions under the exclusive control of the Roman Catholic Church.
8It is however well known that it was the intention of the British government that such Protestants as had settled or should settle in Lower Canada should possess the same educational advantages which were awarded by Royal liberality to the inhabitants of other colonies.
9In evidence of this, Your Majesty’s memorialists would state that the Governor in Chief in 1801, by speech from the throne, assured the Parliament of Lower Canada: “that His Majesty had been graciously pleased to give directions for the establishment of a competent number of Free Schools, for the instruction of children in the first rudiments of useful learning, and in the English tongue, and for foundations of a more enlarged and comprehensive nature, and that His Majesty had been further pleased to signify His Royal intention that a suitable proportion of the lands of the Crown should be set apart, and the revenues thereof appropriated to such purposes.” In acceptance of this offer, the Act incorporating the Royal Institution for the advancement of Learning (now the Board of Governors of McGill University), was passed, reciting the above language in its preamble; the declared intention being that the “liberal grant of Crown Lands,” referred to in the speech, should be made to that body, in trust for Free Schools and “Foundations of a more enlarged and comprehensive nature—but no grant was ever made, though at the time when the Hon. James McGill made his bequest for the foundation of McGill College, it was still expected that such grants would be made, and his endowment was placed in the hands of the Royal Institution under the belief that the intentions of the Crown would be carried into effect.
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10But these liberal intentions on the part of the Crown were not carried into effect; and, finally, the control of the public lands was given to the Provincial Legislature, which has proved unable or unwilling to fulfil these engagements of the Crown; and which for many years rendered no assistance whatever to the University. In 1854 a small amount of aid was given as an annual grant, but this has in subsequent years been diminished to a sum still less adequate, and which is derived from a fund which is already too small for the growing wants even of the Preparatory Schools.
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11Your Majesty’s memorialists, with the Protestant population of Lower Canada, hold that the obligation rests upon the Imperial, as well as upon the Provincial Government, to aid in securing an adequate endowment for institutions of the higher education in Lower Canada, on that broad general basis of public utility on which this University rests; but while specially referring to the case of their own University, they must even more strongly insist on those more general constitutional guarantees, which, in their judgment, are required for the protection of the rights of the protestant minority in Lower Canada, whether in regard to common schools or to institutions of higher learning.
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12Wherefore, Your Majesty’s memorialists humbly pray that Your Most Gracious Majesty will be pleased to take the matters above referred to into favourable consideration, in order to the introduction of proper and just safe-guards into the Imperial Act of Confederation, should such Act be passed, and to the granting of such other measures of relief as to Your Majesty may seem fit. And Your Majesty’s memorialists will ever pray.
13(Signed, on behalf of the University, by the Chancellor.)
14Montreal, December 18th, 1866.
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