Quebec mother's class-action lawsuit against school fees to go ahead

A judge in Chicoutimi has authorized a class-action lawsuit on behalf of the parents of 900,000 Quebec students.

The lawsuit affects parents whose children are enrolled in 68 of the 72 school boards in the province, including all nine English boards.

Daisye Marcil, a mother in Jonquière, launched the lawsuit. She has two kids who attend public school.

She claims that some of the fees parents have to pay are illegal, and she argues that public instruction should be free of charge.

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Her lawyer is former premier Lucien Bouchard. Quebec Superior Court Justice Carl Larouche approved the lawsuit Tuesday.

Marcil is asking for each member of the class action to receive $100 in punitive damages.

The affected school boards have until Jan. 5 to appeal the decision, failing which the class action will be heard.