Quebec student leaders indicate willingness to compromise

Two leaders of Quebec’s main student groups protesting planned tuition hikes have indicated their willingness to compromise with the provincial government. Leo Bureau-Blouin, leader of Quebec’s College Student Federation, said in a radio interview he would be willing to accept some form of tuition increase if the government is prepared to make some adjustments. Martine Desjardins, leader of the University Student Federation of Quebec, also stressed that both sides have to be willing to compromise if the crisis is to end. Students in Quebec have been protesting planned tuition cost increases over the past three months. Last Friday, the local government sought to curb the demonstrations by passing a law that banned spontaneous rallies. However, the action had the reverse effect and the movement gained the support of human rights activists, who claimed the law violated constitutionally-guaranteed rights. Over 2,500 people have been detained in the protests overall, with the bulk of them arrested in the past week.