Quebec announces consultations on campus sexual violence

The Quebec government will host a series of four consultations examining sexual violence at the province's universities and colleges, Higher Education Minister Hlne David announced Thursday.

The talks will be held in Montreal, Quebec City, Gatineau and Saguenay between now and March 2017, David said.

The announcement comes onthe heels of a rash of alleged break-ins and assaults at Laval University in Quebec City last weekend.

Quebec'sLiberal government is also looking into sexual assault allegations against aMontreal-areaLiberal MNA.

GerrySklavounos, thedeputy house leader underPremierPhilippeCouillard, resigned from Caucus on Thursday followinganallegation made Wednesday night.

• Woman alleges she was sexually assaulted by Quebec MNA while working as restaurant hostess
• 15 complaints of break-ins, alleged sexual crimes reported at Laval University residence

The consultations will unite representatives of governments, educational institutions, student groups and organizations focused on sexual violence in a bid to identify ways to "counter and prevent violence of a sexual nature on campus."

"Through this process, we hope to develop common practices that will then be framed in a policy or even a law," Davidsaid.

"We want these measures to make Quebec one of the most engaged and most progressive in North America and offer our students the best conditions in which to pursue their studies in institutions free of sexual violence."

David also called on all Quebec schools to hold their own talks and come up with recommendations for the government.

"Sexual violence of any kind is unacceptable," she said.

• 1 in 4 experiences sexual victimization on Quebec campuses, study finds