AMS External Policy Manual - Alma Mater Society of UBC

Policy Number:2012-05 Passed:Title:Quebec Special LawMay 23, 2012Expires:May 23, 2015Summary:Opposes “An Act to enable students to receive instruction from the postsecondary institutions they attend“(Laws of Quebec, 2012, chapter 12 – formerly “Bill 78”) and asks the government of Quebec to respect thefinancial, legal and intellectual autonomy of democratically elected student unions and federations.Whereas Bill 78, “An Act to enable students to receive instruction from the postsecondary institutionsthey attend,” was passed into law last week by Quebec’s National Assembly;Whereas this legislation imposes hefty fines on persons and organizations, as well as additional penaltiesagainst student associations and federations, with the effect of limiting free speech and the right to gatherin public places and conduct peaceful demonstrations;Whereas the Criminal Code provides all tools necessary for the police, municipal authorities and provincialgovernment to deal with people and organizations that commit illegal acts; andWhereas many commentators in and outside of Quebec, such as the Quebec Bar Association and theQuebec Human Rights Commission, have also pointed out that the measures included in this Act could bechallenged on constitutional grounds;Be it resolved that “An Act to enable students to receive instruction from postsecondary institutions theyattend,” be opposed, that the Government of Quebec be called upon to respect the financial, legal andintellectual autonomy of democratically elected student unions and federations, and that a letter be sentto Quebec Premier Jean Charest and copied to the leaders of Quebec’s opposition parties expressing thisopinion;Be it further resolved that the AMS disapproves of acts of violence committed by any party.NOTE: During its first cabinet meeting on September 20, 2013, the new Parti Québécois government cancelled thetuition increases at the heart of the student conflict. Law 12 was in effect repealed by Decree 924-2012, published inthe Gazette Officielle du Québec, Part 2 – Laws and Regulations, 144 th year, no. 41, October 10, 2012, p. 4865.AMS Policy Manual Page | 20