Quebec Adopts Emergency Law To End Tuition Crisis

Quebec's legislature has voted in favour of an emergency law aimed at cooling tensions in the 14-week tuition hike crisis.

After debating the special legislation overnight, members of the national assembly (MNAs) voted 68-48 on Bill 78.

The legislation calls for heavy fines for students and their federations, and strict regulations governing demonstrations.

After receiving assent from Quebec's lieutenant-governor, likely Friday night, the law will take effect.

Some legal experts are raising red flag about the law, while opposition leaders have called it "abusive."

"It's the worst law that I've ever seen, except for the War Measures Act," said law professor Lucie Lemonde, referring to the notorious legislation imposed in Quebec during the 1970 FLQ crisis.

"We knew something was coming, but I didn't think they would use it to change the rules of the game in terms of the rights to demonstrate," said Lemonde, who teaches at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQÀM).

The law attacks an individual's rights to freedom of expression, association and conscience, she said.

Other legal experts questioned Bill 78's legality.

The head of the provincial bar association, Louis Masson, said it violates constitutional rights, including freedom of speech and the right to demonstrate peacefully.

The law also creates many roadblocks to organizing a peaceful demonstration, and presents "so many risks that an honest citizen practically will not go there."

However, there were grumblings from some members of the bar that not all Quebec lawyers are opposed to the law.

Critical reception

The Opposition has been extremely critical of the bill, pounding on the Charest government during the lengthy debate.

Parti Québécois Leader Pauline Marois calls the law "abusive" and promised to repeal it, if her party is elected to power in the future.

The law is designed to expire at the end of 2013.

Student leaders were also quick to denounce the bill soon after initial details of the legislation were released.

"This is actually a declaration of war against the student movement and not only against the student movement, but it restricted the liberty of speech, the liberty of association," said Martine Desjardins, president of university student group FEUQ.

Original Article
Source: Huff
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