New Quebec political party, led by Legault, suggests middle ground on tuition
July 30, 2012 - 11:48 AM
MONTREAL - The latest proposal to end Quebec's student conflict comes from a new political party hoping to vie for power in an election campaign expected to start this week.
The Coalition For Quebec's Future, led by Francois Legault, says it would reduce planned tuition hikes by about one-quarter and set them at $200 per year over five years.
He also says he would delay implementing them until next January.
Legault is also urging the government to drop provisions of its controversial protest law, which would set severe fines for anyone blocking a school.
He is casting his proposals as a reasonable middle ground between the more hardline stance of the Charest Liberals, and the Parti Quebecois which is more tolerant of the striking students' cause.
The issue could flare up again in the coming weeks, as an election campaign gets under way while striking students are supposed to go back to class in mid-August.
Polls suggest a potential three-way race, although Legault's party has lagged in popularity in recent months.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012