Mr. Speaker, the Université du Québec in Chicoutimi is celebrating its 25 years of existence. In its first year, back in 1969, this university had 857 students, including 521 full-time students, and 336 part-time students. Four university-level institutions were grouped together: the École de commerce, the École de génie, the Centre de formation des maîtres, and the Grand Séminaire de Chicoutimi.
Today, some one hundred different programs, including 15 at the master and doctorate levels, are offered to more than 7,500 students. It is important to have a university in our region.
We want to wish a long life to the Université du Québec in Chicoutimi, which is truly a development tool in our region.