'Deeply disturbing' that Legault asked police to dismantle McGill encampment: opposition parties
Quebec Premier François Legault is facing criticism from opposition parties for asking police to dismantle the pro-Palestinian encampment on the McGill University campus.
Despite the premier's remarks and a recent closed-door meeting between the protesters and the school's administration, the group says it has no plans to leave their encampment.
Protesters are starting to call it a "tiny city." Tents are still pitched, there's a library and wooden sidewalks. Going into its second week, it seems Premier François Legault's calls have been ignored.
Last Thursday, the premier asked Montreal police (SPVM) to shut down the camp and on Tuesday, he stood by his words.
"I've said what I want to say. Now, it's up to McGill management and SPVM to choose the appropriate means and times to ensure that the law is respected," he told reporters in Quebec City.
But opposition parties say Legault shouldn't have said anything at all.
"Separation of power is important. It's not a decoration. The right to protest is important in a democratic society and it's deeply disturbing to see Mr. Legault intervening in that situation," said Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, Québec solidaire's co-spokesperson.
'Legault needs to respect the rule of law'
Others say that the fact that there was no police intervention shows the province's institutions are working correctly, especially after a judge rejected an injunction to remove the encampment.
"François Legault was irrelevant trying to give orders to the SPVM. François Legault needs to respect the rule of law," said Quebec Liberal Party interim leader Marc Tanguay.
"It's not to the premier to just tell the police what to do while there's a judgment," said Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. "And you can agree or disagree with the judgment, but it's a judgment."
Protesters say there was no progress after a private meeting with the university on Monday but Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante says it's important to keep having those discussions.
"The SPVM will continue to monitor, of course, because we want to make sure it's peaceful," the mayor said Tuesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Guilty: Trump becomes first former U.S. president convicted of felony crimes
Donald Trump became the first former American president to be convicted of felony crimes Thursday as a New York jury found him guilty of all 34 charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex.
Can Trump come to Canada now that he's a convicted felon?
A Canadian immigration lawyer says now that Donald Trump is a convicted felon, he is technically barred from crossing the border into Canada.
Montreal tech billionaire charged with several sex offences
Robert Miller was charged Thursday with several sexual assault charges after Montreal police reopened an investigation into the tech billionaire.
'All we need is a plug-in and a sink': B.C. helicopter charity delivers health care to remote Canada
Imagine your dentist arriving to help you via chopper. That is the aim of Helicopters Without Borders, a registered charity in B.C. specializing in bringing health care to remote communities, the sort of places you can only access quickly by air or water.
Aurora borealis returning to night skies across Canada this Friday: NOAA
If you missed the brilliant displays of the aurora borealis over North America on May 10, you may have another chance to see them on Friday night.
A pair enjoyed pricey meals and bolted when it was time to pay. Their dine and dash ended in jail
A Welsh couple who dined out on pricey meals and bolted when the bill came is now paying the price, behind bars.
'Why didn't they stop?' Mom asks of driver in hit-and-run crash that killed son
The mother of a 13-year-old boy who was killed in a hit-and-run in Edmonton is begging the driver to come forward.
Shell investigating a 'potential cybersecurity incident'
Oil and gas giant Shell says it is investigating a possible cybersecurity 'incident.'
Doug Ford suggests immigrants behind Jewish school shooting
Ontario Premier Doug Ford suggested immigrants are to blame for the shooting of an empty Jewish school in Toronto over the weekend, despite police saying they have little information on the suspects.