The Cadre -

13 October 1998

National News

Student union appeals Quebec's differential fee policy

BY SONIA VERMA

MONTREAL (CUP)-- McGill’s undergraduate stu- dents’ society has hired con- troversial leat Febre Guy Bertrand toe hepato ebruary’s Que- ior Court decision epuoldien' the province’s dif- ferential tuition fee policy. Bertrand is best known for his role in the recent Su- preme Court case which a on Quebec’s unilat-

eral right to separate from anada. The decision to hire the Quebec City lawyer has raised concerns some students

that the case will shift away,

from the issue of accessible education and toward Canada- Quebec relations.

The two-year old fee structure effectvely doubles pr piety a a

colleges for out-of- - ince seadinats, ae

“I was surprised disapointed wih the deci-

said Louis Messier,

francophone commissioner with ill’s students’ soci- ety. “I think the last thing stu- dents at McGill want is to get but involved in a battle between Quebec and Ottawa.” Messier he’s wor- ried Bertrand wil misconstrue

fees are being onsidered by a number of provinces, includ-

ing British Columbia and Al- berta.

, ae y turning this into a ederalist case becanage te elena We ates dents in B.C. who may be facin elie Baie, _besees.

to differen aad Gen

ae the ous forme thing

myerecper aes of Rights

and Freedoms by restricting islation

Paul Ruel, the named laintiff in the case, questions Docunad’s wonder-

pane ae ee aane .

plc, wed ioe be liscriminati which prohibits

In his February || deci- sion, Judge Claude Tellierruled firmly in favour of the Parti Quebecois government, find-

ing that an increase in tuition for out-of-province students doesn’t pose a significant bar- rier to Cangas students’

“ts poy that Bericaal will try a different approach, em izing Que- bec’s responsibility to act as a province of Canada and the primacy of constitutional re- sponsibilities.

“As Quebecers, our lives have to be based on the princi cdaaammpeindes sokntiey

to respect of its citizens, and that means

parr pe. Rr citizens from an-

omexgrovinge

say the protease’? decision to implement differ ential fees was motivated by nationalism.

“For 30 years the nation- alists of Sues bere — trying to is no

oat Canadian in Quebec,

ng wil Wivide students ines. “He has always focused on national unity and linguistic issues, but there’s too much more to it than that and the case seems to be getting away from issues like discrimination and accessibility,” he said. The students’ soci hired Bertrand for $20,000 ter Durocher failed to ile the necessary paperwork for an ore as the deadline ap-

But both Bertrand and student councillor Jeffrey Feiner expect the cost of the case to exceed that, anticipat- ne Oe nen preme Court of Canada.

Its hoped a private fundraiser will be able to cover the additional costs.

A court date for the ap-

will be announced Octo-

15.