RSS

The minority Parti Quebécois government has announced an upcoming study on uranium.

Environment Minister, Yves-François Blanchet told the Gazette on Thursday that the study, which will study the impact on the development of uranium in the province, is set to begin next fall.

There will not be a green light issued for the exploration or development of uranium in Québec until the study is completed.

The province’s environment board, B.A.P.E. doesn’t have jurisdiction in the north where the uranium projects are set to begin. The James Bay Northern Quebec Agreement will allow the board to conduct the study, in this case.

Blanchet expressed hope in Quebec aboriginal communities that they attend B.A.P.E. meetings on the study and the proposed uranium exploration project.

Flickr Photo by: NNSANews

Quebec Premier Pauline Marois is defending a Montreal bylaw that demands protesters give an itinerary at the beginning of a protest.

The Montreal Gazette reports Marois and her ministers do not consider bylaw P-6 to be unreasonable.

After the election, the Parti Québecois removed punitive sections of Bill 78 that limited the number of demonstrators, where they could gather, and giving 8 hours notice.

Quebec’s human rights commission condemned Bill 78, imposed by the former Liberal government.

Marois participated in a demonstration after Bill 78 was adopted, joining other non-students in the streets banging pots and pans.

Many are calling bylaw P-6 unconstitutional because it restricts freedom of assembly and freedom of expression.

Marois says people should be able to demonstrate without violence and respecting, minimally, the rules.

Flickr Photo by: Montreal metropole culturelle

STORY WRITTEN BY: AISHA SAMU

According to access to information requests made by Radio-Canada, over 180 health care sites contain asbestos.

The carcinogenic fiber used as a fire- retardant is being found in buildings such as hospitals, clinics and long-term care homes.

Provincial authorities are working to create a registry, but say it won’t be completed for another two years. During that time, they will have to determine asbestos levels in buildings and report them.

The CSN labor union, representing over 120,000 health care workers is urging the government to act faster.

Flickr Photo by: CyprusPictures

STORY WRITTEN BY: JAMIE-LEE GORDON

Student associations and university labour unions can learn a lot from each other.

The Link reports that while labour unions can benefit from the tactics used in the student movement, student associations can equally gain from the history of labour movements.

Spokesperson for the Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante Jérémie Bédard-Wien says fostering solidarity between students and workers is extremely important.

Students who work and educational workers face unpredictability and a lack of job security in the workforce, and can benefit from supporting each other.

Bédard-Wien acknowledges that cultural differences between student associations and unions could hinder that mutual support.

ASSÉs use of disruptive tactics have put them at odds with union activists.

Professor at the Université de Québec en Outaouais and lecturer on organized labour in Quebec Thomas Collombat says student associations can learn from labour unions about the importance of unity.

Labour unions can also learn from the creativity of the student movement like the effective use of social media and mascots as symbols of the movement.

Bédard-Wien believes we must see unions as a political vehicle in order to affect government policy.

STORY WRITTEN BY: AISHA SAMU