One of the most outspoken voices in Quebec's student movement has suggested that tuition fee protests have escalated in recent weeks due to government foot-dragging.
As spokesperson for one of the largest and most militant student groups, CLASSE representative Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois has been characterized as "the face" of the movement that's gripped Quebec for three months.
But after a string of violent incidents -- some resulting in tear gas fired at students and a protester losing an eye -- Nadeau-Dubois has found himself defending demonstrators while championing the cause.
Speaking to CTV's Question Period on Sunday, Nadeau-Dubois stressed that CLASSE and its affiliate groups do not condone or promote violence.
However, he asserted Premier Jean Charest's government should shoulder some of the blame for protest-related disturbances such as road closures.
"During the first weeks of the strike we weren't seeing those disruptions," Nadeau-Dubois said in an interview from Quebec City.
"I think the fact that the conflict is now bigger than ever is a lot of the responsibility of the government because (Charest) ignored the movement for the first ten weeks."
Demonstrators have been rallying against a proposed tuition hike of $1,625, which would be implemented over several years.
In early May, students and Quebec political leaders drafted a tenuous plan to resolve the dispute. The proposed deal involved a temporary freeze on tuition hikes and a committee to manage university funds and strengthen loan and bursaries for students.
However, students rejected the offer in a vote last week and continued protesting.
Further debate came when a string of smoke-bomb attacks shut down Montreal's subway system for several hours on Thursday.
Unconfirmed reports suggested the attacks could be linked to a group of militant student protesters. The reports said the group believes that the main student protesters are not far-reaching enough in their demands.
Police have not linked the attacks to any student protest groups. Four suspects, all in their early twenties, face charges related to terrorism and mischief.
Nadeau-Dubois condemned the attacks.
"It's totally not the type of action that we are putting in our strategies," he said.
"We are not on strike against the people who take the Metro in the morning; we are on strike against this government."
