Movement on cusp of transformation
Quebec’s student movement is on the cusp of a major transformation.
University students throughout Quebec are beginning to weigh in on two new federations that are primed to take over from the now defunct Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec (FEUQ), which helped guide students to victory over tuition hikes during the Maple Spring of 2012.
The student movement now has two new major players vying for students’ affiliations: the Union étudiante du Québec (UEQ) and the Association for the Voice of Education in Quebec (AVEQ).
These are fledgling organizations which aim to bring more transparent and equitable representation to Quebec students, and to eliminate some of the infighting that had dogged FEUQ and the province’s most militant association, ASSÉ.
“Plurality in the student movement can only be positive,” said Terry Wilkings, president of the Concordia Student Union, which will hold a referendum this month on joining AVEQ. “Just because they’re different doesn’t mean they’ll be divided. Differences can be put aside for an existential threat.”
Of course, with three national organizations jockeying to be the most important voice in the political arena, there is always a danger that the new structure will only exacerbate some of the divisions that had led to a fractured student movement after the success of the tuition protests.
Quebec’s student movement crumbled last spring when the Université de Montréal’s 40,000-strong student association, FAÉCUM, announced it was disaffiliating from FEUQ with the intention of setting up a rival federation.
That led to the birth of UEQ, and subsequently a dissatisfied group splintered off and formed AVEQ.
ASSÉ will continue to focus on mobilization of students. Both UEQ and AVEQ have pledged more transparent governance.
But they have different approaches to student voting, with AVEQ employing a one association, one vote method while UEQ will use a double majority system which first requires a majority of member associations to vote in favour of a motion, and then a second proportional vote which the group says will guarantee equity.
AVEQ’s method is the simplest and most democratic, said Médérick Potvin, a coordinator for the association. “Theirs is more complicated and favours larger associations, which could work together to block votes,” he said.
Caroline Aubry, a coordinator for UEQ, said it’s structured so it would be impossible for 25 per cent or less of associations to block motions. They have also created a structure allowing for “easy in, easy out” affiliation and it aims to be the major provincial group fighting to protect students’ interests.
For now, however, both groups don’t officially exist; AVEQ doesn’t even have a website yet.
They are both waiting for results from pending votes and referendums on affiliation: AVEQ could have 40,000 members if Concordia and the university in Chicoutimi vote to join. UEQ has eight interested parties and potentially 100,000 members voting before Christmas.
Other associations will also make their choices throughout the academic year.
“The objective is to have the strongest student movement possible,” said Aubry. “I sure hope AVEQ will collaborate with us because we really do have the same interests.”