(Granby) Québec solidaire is inspired by the expansion of the “Françoise David law” last May and wants to once again find a consensus with the other political parties, this time to “ensure that all children have access to meals” in Quebec’s public schools.
“Today we are inviting the government and the two other political parties to work together. The goal we are putting forward is to ensure that all our children have access to meals in our schools. We are ready to discuss the terms of this program,” said interim co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire, Christine Labrie, on Thursday at a press briefing during her party’s pre-sessional caucus.
Last May, the National Assembly unanimously adopted Bill 65, which aims to limit the right to eviction and protect the rights of senior tenants. It also prohibits, for a period of three years, landlords from evicting their tenants for the purpose of changing the use, subdivision or expansion of dwellings.
The adoption of this law, following negotiations with Québec solidaire, reinvigorated the political party, which was then torn apart following an internal crisis and the resignation of co-spokesperson Émilise Lessard-Therrien.
“Our successes last spring with the Françoise David law energize us. It motivates us. And we say to ourselves why not once again succeed in creating a consensus,” explained Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.
The two elected officials believe that the issue of hunger in schools affects all parliamentarians, and that it is possible to find a consensus. “François Legault has been telling us for six years that his priority is education. I am able to believe him, but if the priority is education, we cannot accept that one child in five is hungry. I refuse to believe that François Legault and Bernard Drainville are insensitive to this,” he said.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Christine Labrie, interim co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire
The results we had last spring, our first collaboration with the government, encourage us to try it again because we know that it is a subject that can achieve consensus. We really have the impression that there is sensitivity.
Christine Labrie
She says the current situation is not acceptable. She recounted, dismayed, that she was told of a situation where two children had to share a single pogo for dinner, and that they were fighting over the best piece.
“I heard Mr. Fitzgibbon tell us in the last few days that he had lost his motivation, but we know where our motivation is. Every morning when we open the newspaper, we see our motivation. It’s people who are in substandard housing, it’s seeing children who are hungry on school benches. It motivates us to change things,” said Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.
Meals offered in schools that do not have a kitchen could be prepared by a catering service, the two elected officials explained. In return, parents who can afford it could make a voluntary contribution to the school. They do not want the meal service to be offered only to children in need to avoid any form of discrimination.
The political party also plans to address the difficult economy for young people, with rising unemployment rates, and adaptation to climate change during the autumn parliamentary session.