'They don't want to make time for us': Students stung after CAQ and PQ sit out of Dawson College debate
Candidates from various Quebec political parties took part in an English-language debate at Dawson college Tuesday with topics ranging from climate change, to systemic racism, to identity politics.
But two parties were notably absent from the discussion: the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) and the Parti Quebecois (PQ).
According to Donal Gill, a political science professor at the junior college (CEGEP), the latter didn't even respond to the invite.
"The CAQ replied and declined to participate. The PQ didn't even bother to answer our invitations," he said.
Gill said the parties of Francois Legault and Paul St-Pierre Plamondon missed out on an opportunity to connect with young voters.
"I think it's really unfortunate. As a political science teacher, I'm always encouraging my students to see avenues of participation in our political system and get involved, and it's discouraging to see parties decline the opportunity."
To Dawson students like Kiana Lalavi, the move sends a clear message.
"They don't want to cater to the Dawson community, that they don't think it's worth their time," said Lalavi, who is a Dawson Student Union executive.
"Regardless of whether they get their votes here or not, these [students] are people they have to represent in government, these are people that are Quebec civilians."
Diana Rice, coordinator of the Dawson College Peace Centre, agrees.
"For them not to show up sends a big message that our students aren't valuable, the diversity of our students aren't valuable, and they don't want to make time for us, and they don't want to make time for the things that matter to our students," she said.
But their absence is perhaps not so surprising.
READ MORE: Quebec only issuing marriage certificates in French under Bill 96, causing immediate fallout
Much of the discourse around Bill 96, Quebec's new language law, was centred on its effect on English CEGEPs.
In January, the CAQ shelved Dawson's $100 million expansion project, opting to prioritize French schools instead.
The PQ was also against the expansion.
"If they can avoid being criticized for their policies regarding Dawson, by Dawson students -- well, they're probably going to feel that's time better spent," said Gill.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Haida elder suing Catholic Church and priest, hopes for 'healing and reconciliation'
The lawyer for a residential school survivor leading a proposed class-action defamation lawsuit against the Catholic Church over residential schools says the court action is a last resort.
Yemen's Houthi rebels claim downing U.S. Reaper drone, release footage showing wreckage of aircraft
Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saturday claimed shooting down another of the U.S. military's MQ-9 Reaper drones, airing footage of parts that corresponded to known pieces of the unmanned aircraft.
Britney Spears settles long-running legal dispute with estranged father, finally bringing ultimate end to conservatorship
Britney Spears has reached a settlement with her estranged father more than two years after the court-ordered termination of a conservatorship that had given him control of her life, their attorneys said.
Cisco reveals security breach, warns of state-sponsored spy campaign
State-sponsored actors targeted security devices used by governments around the world, according to technology firm Cisco Systems, which said the network devices are coveted intrusion points by spies.