QUEBEC – Members of Quebec’s national assembly will spend much of the day debating controversial legislation aimed at ending more than three months of student protests.
The debate began last night, continued overnight and will continue until tonight’s expected vote.
The legislation provides for fines of between $1,000 and $5,000 for any individual who prevents someone from entering an educational institution.
The penalties climb to between $7,000 and $35,000 for a student leader and to between $25,000 and $125,000 for unions or student federations.
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Bill 78 also lays out strict regulations governing student demonstrations, including having to give eight hours notice for details such as the itinerary, the duration and the time at which they are being held.
The legislation would also pause the current academic session for striking students and have it resume in August.
Bill 78 should pass because the governing Liberals have a slim majority in the 125-seat national assembly.
As details of the bill emerged Thursday night, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Montreal for a 24th consecutive daily protest against the Charest government’s plan to hike tuition fees.
There were no arrests.
At the heart of the crisis is the government’s plan to hike tuition fees over several years.
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