“If you’re not happy, you can always change programs!” This comment is often said to nursing students when they voice concerns about the lack of pay for their internships. However, 48% of internships in the university setting are in the healthcare field. Among this proportion, 74% of those affected are women, framing this issue from a feminist perspective.
It is important to note that these internships are mandatory and essential to university training. A growing number of students are starting to link the lack of pay for internships to issues such as food insecurity and anxiety. Several protests have taken place, but no concrete action has been taken by the government.
Conversely, students are even noticing a decline in institutional authority. Therefore, on March 26, 2026, a general strike will be held in Montreal, bringing together students from various universities in Quebec.
In 2025, the Quebec government decided to eliminate the Perspective Quebec scholarship, a financial aid program aimed at supporting students pursuing post-secondary education in certain fields. Minister Pascale Dery justified this decision by citing unsatisfactory data. However, many students benefited from this scholarship to cover school expenses, books, necessary materials for internships, and even partially offset the financial loss associated with studies.
Sophie, co-author of this article and a student in nursing, is facing increased stress and fears of not being able to cope with the current inflation context. While the government claims that other solutions will be proposed, as of now, no concrete measures have been announced for students. The younger generation suggests solutions like paid internships with a job promise in the public sector, an exchange they see as fair. Such a solution could help retain nurses and alleviate financial struggles for students.
The lack of payment becomes even harder to justify when other fields of study are considered. Male-dominated areas do not face the same obstacles. For instance, when looking at internship rates at UQAM, computer science interns earn an hourly rate between $21.50 and $25.50. In 2023, IRIS showed the Quebec government should invest $388 million to systematically pay interns.
This inequality is deemed unjust by many students who feel abandoned due to the government’s inaction. It highlights a significant equity issue and points to an inconsistency in recognizing student work: why are some forms of work valued and paid, while others, equally essential to society, are not?
Beyond statistics and comparisons, the issue of paid healthcare internships raises a fundamental recognition issue. Nursing students are not seeking privilege but fairness in a reality that demands time, commitment, and real responsibilities. Continuously telling them to “change programs” is to ignore a systemic problem and trivialize an injustice that disproportionately affects women.
In a context where the healthcare system is already strained and lacking staff, this message also raises concerns about the value placed on the younger generation. It is essential for concrete actions to be taken to recognize, support, and value these internships properly. Without this, student mobilizations are likely to escalate, widening the gap between political discourse and reality.
A glimmer of hope is visible on the distant horizon. Some political parties, like the Parti Quebecois, the Liberal Party, and Quebec Solidaire, now acknowledge the problem and promise changes.
