MONTREAL - Student group CLASSE has rejected the latest government offer Sunday, after 4,000 peaceful protesters took to the streets of Montreal Saturday night.
Classe announced on Twitter that it had unanimously rejected a new proposal from Premier Jean Charest.
Charest offered to spread a $1,600 hike in tuition fees over seven years rather than five.
He also offered to bolster the loans-and-bursaries program, while tying future tuition increases to the rate of inflation.
Two other groups are still debating the offer.
President of the FEUQ, Martine Desjardins, said she recognized some good measures in the offer, including reviewing the management processes of universities, but said after 12 weeks of pressure tactics, the offer seems insufficient.
President of the FECQ, Leo Bureau-Blouin, also said the offer is not terrible, but stresses that it does not freeze tuition fees, the original source of conflict.
Meantime, thousands of protesters marched in downtown Montreal and through Plateau Mont-Royal, but unlike the two previous nights, there was no trouble, and no arrests.
No vandalism was reported, and the assembly remained legal.
Charest says he's prepared to spread a $1,600 hike in tuition fees over seven years rather than five.
About a third of Quebec students are still avoiding their classes, but most have chosen to return to school during the 11-week dispute.
Charest moves Liberal convention
Also, the Quebec Liberals decided to move a party convention next weekend from Montreal to quieter Victoriaville to try to avoid protesting students.
CLASSE tweeted that it has buses ready to go to Victoriaville for the event.
Earlier this month protesters managed to get into a convention centre in Montreal, leading to a showdown with riot police.
They delayed Charest from giving a speech for about an hour.
More protests are scheduled in Montreal and across the province Sunday.
