Medical Students in Quebec Vote in Favor of Strikes
Medical students at four Quebec universities have voted in favor of potentially going on strike this week. The universities of Sherbrooke, Laval, Montreal, and McGill confirmed that their medical students have supported a strike mandate.
The voting results reveal a split within the student community, with concerns over potential repercussions outlined in Bill 2 for coordinated strike actions. In Sherbrooke, 65.8% of students backed a strike mandate, contingent on its legality, with a high voter turnout of 75.5%.
The General Medical Student Association of the University of Sherbrooke (AGÉMUS) specified that the mandate extends to campuses in Sherbrooke, Saguenay, and Montérégie.
At Laval University, 53% of students voted in favor of a strike, with a voter turnout of 76.4%. Following a special general meeting, the Laval University Medical Students’ Association (RÉMUL) decided that weekly referendums would be held if the strike mandate is supported.
The University of Montreal saw 70.4% of students voting in favor of a strike, with a voter turnout of 73.7%. This mandate applies to campuses in Montreal and Mauricie.
Similarly, at McGill University, 64.2% of participants supported a strike mandate, provided it is within legal boundaries. The mandate includes campuses in Montreal and Gatineau.
The Quebec Federation of Medical Students (FMEQ) has taken legal action to challenge specific articles of Bill 2, which it believes restrict freedom of expression and the right to strike for students and associations. The FMEQ is urging the Quebec Superior Court to suspend these articles, citing concerns over fines and restrictions.
The student associations are standing up against what they perceive as authoritarian measures in the legislation, emphasizing the importance of open dialogue and collaborative decision-making in medical education.
Keyphrase: Quebec medical student strikes
