Quebec Election 2012: Leaders weigh in on student crisis

Quebec Premier Jean Charest gestures as he announces a subsidy for school
furniture in Sainte-Marie, Que., on Monday, August 6.

SAINTE-CLOTIDE-DE-HORTON, QUE. — Quebec’s student crisis has taken a backseat during the first week of the province’s election campaign to the dominating discourse of government corruption.

Not for much longer.

As students cast ballots this week to decide if the protest will continue, party leaders cast aspersions on each other’s plans to manage the months-long dispute over a tuition hike.

Speaking to concerns students could be blocked from class if the protest continues, Premier Jean Charest lauded his government’s Bill 78, which prohibits demonstrations within 50 metres of colleges and universities.

“I believe, and my party believes, that the right to education is fundamental,” Charest said Tuesday at a campaign stop near Sherbrooke. “That’s one of the issues in this campaign that differentiates me between (my opponents).”

Charest’s Bill 78 orders students back to class mid-month to complete the semester interrupted in the spring. Student groups, including the militant CLASSE, are now voting to determine if they will break the law.

If the first result — coming from students at Université de Montréal — is any indication, they are not ready to give up the fight. However, the dismal voter turnout of just 9 per cent suggests that may not represent the views of many.

Parti Québécois Leader Pauline Marois, who has marched alongside the protesting students, said Tuesday she wished all of them would return to school, but has little influence over the outcome of the voting.

She walked the thin line of backing the students in their dispute with Charest’s Liberal government without siding with those who may again break the law and disrupt the streets.

“We never tell people not to respect the law,” Marois said. “What I hope is that 100 per cent of students can return to class.”

Though Charest accused him of flip-flopping, Coalition Avenir Québec leader François Legault had a strong take on the crisis Tuesday, saying he is open to the use of force to allow students to resume classes.

“Students who want to go back to school, they should be able to do so,” he said. “If necessary, yes, we should use policemen.”

A large group of professors recently signed a manifesto saying they would respect whatever choice the students made, and that it was unfair to order both students and professors back to work under the tense circumstances.

But Charest said his government reached an agreement with professors Tuesday to ensure classes will resume at the 14 colleges subject to the boycott.

(thestar.com)