Tuition fee rallies in Toronto are known as a model of peaceful public coexistence.
Attendees recognize the telltale smell of marijuana in the air, the top-40 music blasted from the back of trucks and the mellow puff-and-pass between demonstrating students.
Attendees recognize the telltale smell of marijuana in the air, the top-40 music blasted from the back of trucks and the mellow puff-and-pass between demonstrating students.
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- Every year, the Canadian Federation of Students holds a ‘Drop Fees’ rally to let the province know that the country’s highest tuition rates still belong to Ontario and these rates should be reduced. They almost say `please’, such is their eagerness not to offend.
- Now look at the unprecedented street violence that has convulsed Quebec for over 100 days and almost shut down an entire province. The students have grabbed the country’s attention and refused to let it go as they push their government to reject the proposed $1,625 fee hike to be implemented over five years. More than 2,500 arrests and several injuries later, Montreal’s streets remain paralyzed and demonstrating students have been joined by a growing tag group of supporters and boosters relishing the national attention.
- So where is Ontario’s Maple Spring? Sandy Hudson says it may well be looming over the horizon. “We’ve watched our allies in Quebec build for two years, and we’re able to mount a huge resistance,” CFS Ontario chairperson Hudson said. “We’re inspired and motivated and we’re tired of government leaders who benefited from a well-funded public education system.”
- Unionist Sid Ryan agrees. He thinks it’s about time Ontario followed Quebec’s example - but with set boundaries. The Ontario Federation of Labour president points out that the country’s highest tuition fees, largest class sizes and biggest debt load per student all live here. “For those three reasons alone, I believe that the students in Ontario should take a look at what they’re doing in Quebec, and make a decision to protest these punishingly high tuition fees in Ontario, minus any of the violence.”
- Right now the average undergraduate student debt for a four-year degree is $21,178, according to government statistics from 2009-2010.
- “The tax breaks are costing the provincial coffers $2.5 billion,” he said. “When Mike Harris was in office, corporate taxes were at 14 per cent. Today they are at 11.5 per cent. The difference in revenues is $2.5 billion on an annual basis.” Even a $1 billion investment into post-secondary education would go a huge way towards reducing tuition fees in Ontario, he adds.
Posted May 26, 2012 at 8:31pm in ontario quebec tuition students movement montreal cfs drop fees rally maple spring occupy ows protest june 5 education higher learning college university faculty
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Record arrests as police use controversial kettling to control Montreal protests
Police made more than 500 arrests Wednesday evening, the largest number of people arrested in a single night so far in the weeks-long Quebec student demonstrations, after using a controversial technique to control protesters.
The evening march that began with people festively banging pots and pans in support of protesting students ended in the early morning hours with police kettling a crowd of demonstrators and arresting 518 people.
The arrests came just hours after the Quebec government signalled it would be getting tougher on the striking students and set strict conditions for any resumption of negotiations with student strike leaders: There will be no talk of a tuition freeze, and no question of scrapping a newly enacted emergency law. (Photos: The Canadian Press; Gazette; AP/Getty Images; Reuters)
Now, more than ever, they need support and there isn’t much I can do about it :(
Posted May 24, 2012 at 3:30pm in canada quebec police brutality police state kettling students tuition university occupy ows education revolution
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