Latest news with #BernardDrainville
CTV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Young CAQ members attack unions at their convention in Lévis
At their convention in Lévis on Saturday, young Coalition Avenir Québec members said unions engage in 'undemocratic' practices, echoing arguments put forward by the Legault government. They deplored assemblies with 'prohibitive conditions,' 'radical' positions, and a 'lack of transparency' in how dues are used. Education Minister Bernard Drainville has made similar comments and continues to attack the Fédération autonome de l'enseignement (FAE), which he claims has become a 'political movement.' The FAE is challenging Bill 21 in court, which prohibits certain government employees, including teachers, from wearing religious symbols, upsetting the Legault government. In a brief speech on Saturday, Drainville expressed his delight that the CAQ's new generation, which he describes as a 'spark plug,' is tackling trade unionism and giving a 'good kick to the hornet's nest.' 'Is it normal for a union like the FAE to call an unlimited general strike without a strike fund, but have the money to challenge Bill 21?' he asked. 'Something is not right. Why are we letting them do this? ... A union is not a political party,' said the outgoing president of the youth wing, Aurélie Diep, in a similar vein. The theme of Saturday's convention borrows an expression often used by Premier François Legault: 'It's going to shake things up.' At the end of the discussion, the young CAQ members adopted three proposals: Restrict the use of membership fees ... so that they are not used for partisan purposes Make it mandatory to publish detailed information on the expenses of union and student associations. Submit resolutions ... authorizing the calling of a strike, the adoption of a position or an expense that does not fall within their mission to a majority vote of all their members. Both the vice-president of the Quebec Student Union, Audrey Fortin, and the president of the FAE, Mélanie Hubert, reacted on Saturday by accusing the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) of hypocrisy. 'It's fascinating to be lectured on democracy by a party that, at 4:30 this morning, passed a law under gag order,' Hubert said in a phone interview. 'The CAQ was elected with 41 per cent of the vote in 2022 when 66 per cent of the population voted,' she recalled. For her part, Fortin noted that barely 100 young CAQ members were present in the room to vote on the proposals that were submitted. Developing defence and mining In addition to addressing trade union issues, the young CAQ members discussed the economy, bureaucratic streamlining and internships abroad. In particular, they propose 'developing the defence industry in Quebec and focusing on this high value-added sector to diversify the Quebec economy.' They also want to 'reduce red tape in the mining sector by 50 per cent to make it easier than ever to exploit our critical and strategic minerals.' Meanwhile, Legault is scheduled to deliver a speech on Saturday afternoon following the election of a new executive. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French June 7, 2025. Caroline Plante, The Canadian Press
CTV News
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- CTV News
Secularism in schools: Drainville tables amendments to strengthen his bill
Education Minister Bernard Drainville during question period on May 6, 2025. (The Canadian Press/Jacques Boissino) A home-schooled child will lose their services if they or their parent refuses to uncover their face in the presence of a representative of the school or school service centre (CSS). On Thursday, Education Minister Bernard Drainville tabled several amendments to strengthen his Bill 94 on secularism in schools. This piece of legislation extends the obligation to have one's face uncovered at all times to all public and private schools, whether subsidized or not, for both students and staff. It also imposes this obligation on children who are home-schooled and their parents when receiving any service from the SSC. On Thursday, Drainville indicated that he was adding a penalty: refusal by a student or parent to comply will result in the loss of services. For example, a child who requires the services of a remedial teacher would be deprived of them as long as they or their parent refuses to uncover their face completely, explained Drainville's office. As the detailed study of Bill 94 began on Thursday, Québec Solidaire MNA Sol Zanetti accused the CAQ government of 'dividing society.' 'This is a bill that promotes social exclusion,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French June 5, 2025.
CTV News
29-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Kids under 14 should be banned from social media unless parents consent, Quebec committee says
Youth under the age of 14 should not be able to open social media accounts without their parents' consent, a cross-party committee at Quebec's National Assembly has recommended. The Select Committee on the Impacts of Screens and Social Media on Young People's Health and Development has been studying the effects of screens on young people over the past year. On Thursday, the committee submitted a lengthy final report to the National Assembly, containing no fewer than 56 recommendations. The report makes broad appeals to parents, who should, in particular: set a good example when it comes to screen time, avoid exposing their children to screens before bedtime, and avoid using screens to calm or distract their children. As indicated in its interim report submitted last April, the committee also recommends banning cellphones throughout the school, including on school grounds, starting in September. Education Minister Bernard Drainville welcomed this recommendation with 'great openness and interest.' The government has already banned cellphones and other mobile devices in classrooms since January 2024. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 27, 2025. By Caroline Plante, The Canadian Press
CBC
11-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Students push back against Quebec's plan to fully ban cellphones in schools
Social Sharing Many students across Quebec have been expressing their dissatisfaction with the government's decision to impose a full ban on cellphone and other electronic devices. On April 30, the province's Education Minister Bernard Drainville announced his move as part of a series of measures to improve "civility" in Quebec's schools. The province had already banned cellphones in classrooms — a measure that took effect the first day of last year, following the lead of an increasing list of provinces with similar policies. The full ban on cellphones will come into effect as of the next school year in primary and high schools whether they're private or public — and it will apply from the beginning to the end of the school day. But many don't approve of the new rule. Students have been publishing videos on social media to express their frustration and share their perspective. Some even went on strike on Friday, missing a day of class. Karry-Jokebed Fournier, a 16-year-old, took part in a small protest in front of her school. "I tell [Drainville] to worry about real problems instead of worrying about the phones because there's real problems in the world that need to be fixed and phones are just not a problem," said the student at Daniel-Johnson High School, which is located in Montreal's east end neighbourhood of Pointe-aux-Trembles. Karry-Jokebed said students use their phones to "get a taste of the world," and contact their parents or even monitor their health. "We want to feel a sense of security ... when we come to school. It also helps our parents know that we are alright and that we are safe," she said. Drainville argued that cellphones are an obstacle to socialization among students and can be a source of conflict. But Karry-Jokebed asserted that students talk to each other all the time. "During lunch time, the cafeteria is so loud, with students talking to each other. It's really rare to see somebody glued to their phone," she said. Triston Houghting, a 16-year-old from Rosemount High School, described the move as "ridiculous" and remarked that phones were also a way of socializing. "Teachers grew up in an age where they didn't really use phones in their generation. We grew up with our phones and we're kind of attached to them to communicate with our parents, know what's going on in the world," he said. "We're in a generation where information is very important and I feel like our phones are a very crucial part of our education." Triston explained that he used his phone in class to listen to music, allowing him to "get in the zone" and focus on his mathematics work, which he usually doesn't enjoy. He added that most students used their phones for research and that he preferred not to read paper books. Using text-to-speech softwares, he said, helps him get through material more quickly. Phone used to escape reality, says student The cellphone ban was recommended by a special committee that studies the impact of screens on young people. The interim report that followed showed that cellphones were a source of distraction and interfered with students' ability to learn. But the report also stated that there may be specific exceptions when the use of electronic devices is necessary, such as when a student's medical condition justifies it, for teachers' educational purposes or to support students with disabilities or learning difficulties. WATCH | The latest on Quebec's plan for a cellphone ban in schools: Full cellphone ban part of new 'civility' rules in Quebec schools 10 days ago Duration 2:43 New regulations will prohibit students in public and private schools from using electronic devices on school property as of September 2025. Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville hopes the regulation will lead to better concentration and socialization between students. The rules also set requirements for how students address teachers and staff. Triston acknowledged that students can "probably" get distracted for a minute or two during class, but suggested it was not really a concern. Sharlie Rose Moreau, a Secondary 2 student from Daniel-Johnson High School, describes the cellphone ban as "useless." "Most people just pass their time on their phone to forget reality," she said. Moreau shared that she didn't have many friends and sometimes spends her lunch breaks listening to music. She also emphasized that access to phones is important for students to record evidence, especially if teachers display worrisome behaviours. The education minister's announcement of a full ban on cellphones in schools came weeks before the special committee is expected to table its final report. In addition to the effects of screen time on young people, that report will explore topics such as cyberbullying and explicit content, supervision measures at school and online, access to social media and video games as well as advertising targeted at children. WATCH | Quebec also wants students to speak more formally to teachers: Teachers say Quebec's plan to legislate civility in schools misses mark 6 days ago Duration 2:00 Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville says he wants to improve civility in schools by requiring students to address their teachers by using a title such as Mr. or Ms., as well as 'vous,' which is the French language's more formal and polite form of the pronoun 'you.'
CBC
05-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Teachers say Quebec's plan to legislate civility in schools misses mark
Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville says he wants to improve civility in schools by requiring students to address their teachers by using a title such as Mr. or Ms., as well as 'vous,' which is the French language's more formal and polite form of the pronoun 'you.'
