MONTREAL - A new CROP-La Presse survey of 1,500 internet users suggests that Quebecers are evenly split on Bill 78, the provincial law enacted to deal with the student demonstration crisis.
The survey suggested that 51 percent of Quebecers support the legislation.
In Quebec City that support is at 62 percent, while 57 percent of those aged 55-and-older support the legislation.
Among Anglophones the support is at 71 percent.
However 56 percent of people aged under 34 oppose the law, while 53 percent of francophones are against, as are 51 percent of Montrealers.
When asked about each separate clause, respondents offered considerably more support.
Two of three Quebecers agreed with the suspension of classes, 70 percent expressed approval for the clause that prohibits protesters from interrupting classes and 64 percent agree with keeping protests 50 meters away from schools.
Support was in the 70 percent range for provisions ordering demonstrators to provide itineraries as well.
The least popular clause dealt with the heavy fines on those who defy the law, where about 50 percent were against.
When asked which party they planned to vote for in the upcoming provincial election, 25 percent opted for the Liberals, 25 percent for the PQ and 18 percent for the CAQ, with another 11 percent undecided.
Meanwhile some student leaders reported that they were itching to get back into negotiations with the government.
Quebec Federation of University Students (FEUQ) representative Martine Desjardins said that her group is ready to get to the table as soon as Monday but that any discussions would go nowhere unless the tuition hikes were on the table.
She commented on the possibility of a minority PQ-led government as the result of the upcoming provincial election.
"To see the Liberals not get elected would be good news," she said.
She said, however, that her group does not support any party.
She said the group will mobilize to get youth out against the Liberals in swing ridings.
With a file from The Canadian Press
