Emergency law faces vote in Quebec student protest

Protesters make their way through the hall of a Montreal university to disrupt classes Wednesday, May 16, 2012 in Montreal. Carrying a list of scheduled classes, about 100 hard-core protesters marched through pavilions at the Universite du Quebec a Montreal. The student unrest has lasted 14 weeks. Only one-third of Quebec students are actually on declared strikes, but the conflict has created considerable social disorder. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson)

Protesters make their way through the hall of a Montreal university to disrupt classes Wednesday, May 16, 2012 in Montreal. Carrying a list of scheduled classes, about 100 hard-core protesters marched through pavilions at the Universite du Quebec a Montreal. The student unrest has lasted 14 weeks. Only one-third of Quebec students are actually on declared strikes, but the conflict has created considerable social disorder. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson)

Police on horseback charge into a crowd of students protesting against tuition hikes in Montreal, Tuesday, May 15, 2012. A recent court injunction ordered the reopening of College Lionel-Groulx near Montreal. After several days of student pickets, which included some parents and teachers who wanted to support the declared strikers, riot police used chemical irritants to clear a path into the school today. Some students, along with faculty, eventually entered. Hours later, after staff meetings, the college issued a statement: Lionel-Groulx will remain closed for two more days(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz)

Quebec Provincial Police use tear gas to disperse students protesting against tuition hikes at the Lionel Groulx college Tuesday, May 15, 2012 in Ste. Therese, Quebec, Canada. About one-third of post-secondary students in Quebec are boycotting classes in a protest against tuition hikes that has lasted more than three months. What started as a battle over a $325-a-year fee hike appears to have morphed into a broader struggle over the role of the state, the legitimacy of protest tactics, and the boundaries of authority. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz)

Students protesting against tuition hikes battle with Quebec Provincial Police at the Lionel Groulx college Tuesday, May 15, 2012 in Ste. Therese, Quebec, Canada. About one-third of post-secondary students in Quebec are boycotting classes in a protest against tuition hikes that has lasted more than three months. What started as a battle over a $325-a-year fee hike appears to have morphed into a broader struggle over the role of the state, the legitimacy of protest tactics, and the boundaries of authority. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz)

Students protesting against tuition hikes kneel in front of a line of Quebec Provincial Police at the Lionel Groulx college Tuesday, May 15, 2012 in Ste. Therese, Quebec, Canada. About one-third of post-secondary students in Quebec are boycotting classes in a protest against tuition hikes that has lasted more than three months. What started as a battle over a $325-a-year fee hike appears to have morphed into a broader struggle over the role of the state, the legitimacy of protest tactics, and the boundaries of authority. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz)

MONTREAL (AP) ? Quebec's provincial government is expected to vote Friday on an emergency law that would shut some universities and impose harsh fines on protesters blocking students from attending classes as the government looks to end weeks of demonstrations against tuition hikes.

A vote wasn't expected until late Friday afternoon at the earliest and could take place later if delayed by a number of amendments. In the mean time, critics were expressing concern about the planned legislation.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in downtown Montreal on Thursday night as the government introduced the bill to quell the most sustained student protests in Canadian history. But there was none of the violence that erupted Wednesday when windows were smashed, more than 120 people were arrested and police and protesters were injured.

On Friday, the city of Montreal passed a bylaw restricting protesters from wearing masks during demonstrations. The city also said demonstrators will have to provide details of their itineraries beforehand.

Officials have said they believe protesters wearing masks have been causing the most trouble. A similar bylaw was under consideration in Quebec City.

"Our cities can no longer become targets," Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay said. "It's time to reclaim our streets, our neighborhoods, our cities."

Rights groups have protested the bylaw, calling it a restriction on the democratic right to demonstrate.

Quebec Premier Jean Charest said the proposed provincial legislation would not roll back the tuition hikes of $254 per year over seven years. Rather, it would temporarily halt the spring semester at schools paralyzed by walkouts and push up the summer holidays. Classes would resume earlier in August.

Proposed fines range from $7,000 to $35,000 for a student leader and between $25,000 and $125,000 for unions or student federations if someone is prevented from entering an educational institution.

Martine Desjardins, one student leader, called the bill a "declaration of war against the student movement."

But embattled Education Minister Michelle Courchesne said that despite the legislation, talks would go on and an agreement could still be reached.

"Even if there is a special legislation tonight, tomorrow, there can still be an agreement after the law," she said.

Some of the loudest cheers early on Friday were reserved for one man who stood on a garbage can and burned what looked like a copy of the government bill.

The three-month conflict has caused considerable social upheaval in the French-speaking province known for having more contentious protests than elsewhere in Canada ? and the country's the lowest tuition rates.

The U.S. consulate in Montreal last month warned visitors and U.S. expats to be wary of demonstrations.

Associated Press

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