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QUEBEC — The province’s university network is getting a $1.5-billion funding boost over the next six years plus the power to set their own tuition rates for foreign students.

And in the future, rectors and senior staff will no longer get some of those free perks — everything from university-paid domestic help to private club fees — that some get now as Quebec tightens the screws on abusive spending.

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Rectors with such arrangements in their contracts can keep them, but everything will be reviewed when the contract comes up for renegotiation.

Their future salary increases will be capped at the same level as the public sector.

Higher Education Minister Hélène David made the package of announcements Thursday at a lengthy news conference.

“Everyone was very nervous, so we had to increase the financing,” David said, referring to negotiations with the leaders of Quebec’s 19 universities to hammer out a deal.