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       Legault shouldn't be telling police what to do with McGill encampment,
       opposition parties say
        
 (HTM) Source
        
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       Quebec Premier François Legault is facing criticism from opposition
       parties for asking police to dismantle the pro-Palestinian encampment
       on the McGill University campus.
        
       Despite the premier's remarks and a recent closed-door meeting between
       the protesters and the school's administration, the group says it has
       no plans to leave their encampment.
        
       Protesters are starting to call it a "tiny city." Tents are still
       pitched, there's a library and wooden sidewalks. Going into its second
       week, it seems Premier François Legault's calls have been ignored.
        
       Last Thursday, the premier asked Montreal police (SPVM) to shut down
       the camp and on Tuesday, he stood by his words.
        
       "I've said what I want to say. Now, it's up to McGill management and
       SPVM to choose the appropriate means and times to ensure that the law
       is respected," he told reporters in Quebec City.
        
       But opposition parties say Legault shouldn't have said anything at
       all.
        
       "Separation of power is important. It's not a decoration. The right to
       protest is important in a democratic society and it's deeply
       disturbing to see Mr. Legault intervening in that situation," said
       Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, Québec solidaire's co-spokesperson.
        
       ##  'Legault needs to respect the rule of law'
        
       Others say that the fact that there was no police intervention shows
       the province's institutions are working correctly, especially after a
       judge rejected an injunction to remove the encampment.
        
       "François Legault was irrelevant trying to give orders to the SPVM.
       François Legault needs to respect the rule of law," said Quebec
       Liberal Party interim leader Marc Tanguay.
        
       "It's not to the premier to just tell the police what to do while
       there's a judgment," said Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre
       Plamondon. "And you can agree or disagree with the judgment, but it's
       a judgment."
        
       Protesters say there was no progress after a private meeting with the
       university on Monday but Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante says it's
       important to keep having those discussions.
        
       "The SPVM will continue to monitor, of course, because we want to make
       sure it's peaceful," the mayor said Tuesday.
        
        
        
        
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