QUEBEC – Student leaders plan to include the CLASSE, the most politically-motivated of the organizations behind an 11-week strike of Quebec university and CÉGEP students, in their delegation when they meet Education Minister Line Beauchamp later Monday.
“We will take the CLASSE with us,” explained Martine Desjardins, president of the Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec representing university students, in an RDI interview.
“We want to resolve this conflict,” she said.
Beauchamp has indicated that she is willing to meet the FEUQ and the Fédération étudiante collègiale du Québec, representing CÉGEP students, but not the CLASSE, judging insufficient the denunciation of violence by the CLASSE, which also said violence is justified in cases of self-defence.
Desjardins said the FEUQ will include two CLASSE representatives in its delegation for the meeting with Beauchamp. The minister’s spokesperson did not return calls.
“We will share our invitation card with them because we think this has lasted long enough,” Desjardins said. “The students have been on strike for 11 weeks and the minister must propose solutions that will lead to discussions.
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“It is unfortunate they she is adding conditions, saying that this is still not enough, frankly, we are losing time. We are still having a semantic debate while we should be assuming our responsibilities.”
Desjardins said the students have shown their maturity in the debate and she hopes Beauchamp does the same.
“We have already told them we will come with the CLASSE,” Desjardins added. “We will see whether or not they accept with these conditions.
“If they do not agree to meet us with the CLASSE, clearly they do not want to solve the problem and want to prolong the issue and that he truly deplorable.”
Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, co-spokesperson for the CLASSE, who participated in the RDI interview with Desjardins, described the minister’s position as “childish.”
“We had a debate that was clear, nuanced, intelligent,” he said referring to a weekend CLASSE meeting called in response to the government’s demand that it renounce violence.
“We refuse to renounce the heritage of Quebec’s social movements, a heritage which means that Quebec is a little more just as a province, a little more equitable than elsewhere,” Nadeau-Dubois said.
“We do not renounce our principles. We admit that some acts have been unjustified. We have taken this step. Now it is up to Madame Beauchamp to discuss with everyone.”
Nadeau-Dubois also said that demonstration and the strike would continue as the talks with the minister went on, but that the students, protesting against a $1,625 tuition hike, want to get back to class.
“That’s why we have been on strike,” he said.
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