MONTREAL - For those accustomed to seeing students protesting against tuition hikes, one group offers the possibly-surprising view that school fees should be raised.
Young Liberal supporters expressed those views at a youth wing meeting of the party held Saturday.
"How do you want to be compensating world class teachers and world class standards if we're not paying for it?" asked Erica Kohos.
Maripier Isabelle said that the best way to fund universities is through a formula that allows the schools more money but also forces them to show where the cash is going.
"With this plan universities will provide us with a balance sheet that ensures every extra dollar put into the education system has a direct impact on the quality of our education," said Isabelle, President of the Young Liberals of Quebec.
Jean Charest, who has shown no signs of backing down in the battle over tuition hikes, was also on hand to reaffirm plan to the raise rates.
"Do we, yes or no, want world class education?" he asked. "If the answer is yes then we need to give the universities the financial resources they need and everyone needs to make an effort," said Premier Charest.
Education Minister Line Beauchamp said that students who miss classes will cost the student protesters who could be forced to take classes into the summer or in evenings.
Two other anti-tuition hike protests took place on Saturday, one with placards and the other employing pianos and violins, as music students performed a concert dedicated to stopping the tuition hies.
