Mass rallies grip Montreal as tuition talks fail (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

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Published time: June 03, 2012 01:19
Edited time: June 03, 2012 11:46

Demonstrators march in a protest againt the Quebec Liberal Government on June 2, 2012, in Montreal. (AFP Photo / Rogerio Barbosa)

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Canada, Education, Human rights, Law, Politics, Protest

Thousands of Canadians marched in Montreal despite rainy weather. The peaceful protest against tuition hikes kicked off in the province of Quebec after talks between students and the local government failed.

Up to 7,000 students, their parents and supporters were marching by mid-afternoon on Saturday according to CLASSE – the largest and most militant of the student groups behind the protests. Some wore costumes and played music.

"It's to continue to rally and show that we are still motivated even if summer is on its way," AFP quoted CLASSE spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois as saying.

A strong police presence, including dozens of vehicles, was a characteristic of Saturday’s protest. The conflict escalated after the government passed an emergency anti-protest law on May 18. Shortly after, some 700 people were arrested in Montreal and Quebec City in a single night on May 23.

The controversial law introduces enormous fines of between $24,000 (US $23,058) and $122,000 (US $117,212) for organizations that fail to prevent their members from protesting. Individuals found guilty of organizing a protest now face a fine of some $34,000 (US $32,666).

This week, the two sides met for negotiations in an effort to find a solution to the $1,778 (US $1,708) tuition dispute and end the 16-week stand-off between the province and student associations. However, both sides left the negotiation table with no progress made. Students were offered a $35 discount on tuition hikes per year, bringing the total increase to $1,533 (US $1,473) over seven years, but the government’s suggestion was rejected.

"I just paid off a $15,000 (US $14,400) student loan," one of the protesters, 46-year-old Isabelle Farfeuille, was quoted by AFP. "I am here for my children, so that they don't have to owe as much. I am ready to protest every single day, every night, until the talks lead to an agreement."

Montreal police called the Saturday protest "illegal," because it had not received the route. However, it said in Twitter that, "People can march if no crime is committed." The emergency law obliges organizers of demonstrations to notify police at least eight hours beforehand, providing times and locations of protest marches.

This week's discussions between Quebec Education Minister Michelle Courchesne and student organizations were regarded as the last chance to settle the issue before summer, when major tourist draws, such as the Montreal Grand Prix, take place. However, the negotiations failed, the Saturday talks were called off, and no other meetings have been set.

Demonstrators march in a protest againt the Quebec Liberal Government on June 2, 2012, in Montreal (AFP Photo/Rogerio Barbosa)

A protestor wears a Guy Fawkes mask during a demonstration against tuition hikes and Bill 78 in downtown Montreal, Quebec, June 2, 2012 (Reuters/Christinne Muschi)

Demonstrators march in a protest againt the Quebec Liberal Government on June 2, 2012, in Montreal (AFP Photo/Rogerio Barbosa)

Comments (12)

mohammed abdul sayeed (unregistered) 21.06.2012 04:45

it is really awakening not protest,only those parents who are spending in some cases 1/4 of thier income in some cases 1/2 of their income to keep these educational institutions running know what is the meaning of this awakening. It should be made more easier & the awakeing is suppose to spread & become a global movement. education s should become the birth right of an individual if our counrty & governments cannot provide us subsidy on education which is a life time investment which keeps the generations gripped and entagled one after another its an endless game in which only the institution benifits in all the ways. the only loosers are those who seek the education in those institutions.

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1+0 Option (unregistered) 04.06.2012 11:22

bunnyswanson wrote in #10These are citizens, not an army. ... Word of mouth is the common man's media today. We have no choice.------------- --------------ANSWER :Add: "persevere and remain steadfast with your message of truth" to your mandate. Then you can be pleasantly surprised as many who have fought oppression, before, have prevailed at last.

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bunnyswanson 04.06.2012 08:02

oneirotrader (unregistered) wrote in #6Individual and crazy costumes, people marching in chaotic formation, no clear leadership nor operational chain of command, no mass communications and propaganda apparatus, no unity amongst protesters.The only good element that I noticed is the pot concert. At least they were all repeating the same beat and marching as one entity instead of many individuals.The reason why the elites win and the protesters lose is simple. The protesters lack those five recipes:1) Unity2) Organization3) Operationality4) Leadership5) PropagandaYou need to stop having individual and crazy costumes and you need to adopt a UNIFORM that each and everyone of you will wear when you march. You also need to march in locked footsteps as if you were a military unit. You need to be operational with ranks and a chain of command. You need leadership and abide by your leadership's final decisions. And finally you need to have your own mass media to constantly repeat and justify your demands.As long as you will act like a disorganized bunch, the elite will mock and redicule you.These are citizens, not an army. The mass assembly has one purpose - to tell the politicians the natives are not happy with the decisions being made. If the assembly is huge, the majority are unhappy and the govt had better listen up because stopping commerce will result and that takes away from everyone. A leader, why? So he can be labeled and ruined for the rest of his life because of a file in some bureacratic department ? We see the powerful force before us (globalization of govt/banks/corporati ons and the disappearance of the middle and lower class) and what they are capable of doing. These fat cats have been planning this for over a century. They've assassinated for less. The majority of the people rule. Unless Canada is no longer a democratic nation. People who dress up want to get their picture in the paper/on the internet!!! And hey, it works! Camera crews go right for the bizarre and make a story up that completely disregards the regular everyday people. Media - Word of mouth is the common man's media today. We have no choice.

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