SOLIDARITY IN THE STREETS
The atmosphere was festive, but the message tens of thousands of protesting students delivered was serious: Don’t touch tuition. Just days after the provincial budget confirmed planned increases will go ahead, protesters made it clear they’re not backing
There was no denying the magnitude of the message delivered by striking university and CEGEP students on Thursday, as tens of thousands marched peacefully – albeit noisily – through downtown Montreal to denounce Quebec’s plan to raise tuition fees.
The scope of the student movement could suddenly be seen, and protesters themselves could be heard muttering “wow” and “awesome” as they surveyed the crowd – estimated at 200,000 by organizers and less than that by police, who don’t provide official numbers.
Sporting symbolic red felt squares and red tank tops, coveralls, kilts and the like, the students congregated at Peel St. and René Lévesque Blvd. for a couple of hours, enjoying the summery day and a festive atmosphere before marching through downtown and into Old Montreal.
At times, it was hard to tell if it was a party or a protest – but there was an undercurrent of anger over the government’s plan to hike tuition by $1,625 over five years beginning in the fall.
Many students made reference to the Arab Spring uprising last year, with placards that read: “Printemps Érable.”
Another sign: “Sorry for the inconvenience. We are trying to change the world.”
Students had said that one measure of success for the rally would be that it be peaceful, and it was. Police reported no arrests.
Students were joined by parents and grandparents, and families with young children came out to show their support as well.
Despite pockets of masked protesters, the event went off without a hitch – unless you were a motorist trying to navigate your way through the city.
Montreal police praised the students for sharing the route of the march in advance.
“This way we’re there to intervene right away,” said spokesperson Ian Lafrenière, saying there were trouble spots but officers were able to act quickly to disperse the problems.
A march last November that drew about 30,000 protesters also was peaceful, but ended with an occupation at McGill University that brought riot police onto campus.
In recent weeks, there have been confrontations with riot police at many of the almost daily protests.
On Thursday, Chris Naismith, an engineering student at Concordia University, carried his 2½-year-old daughter, Stella, in his arms during the march.
“I can’t imagine how much it will cost to send her to university,” he said.
Loreto Carnevale, who has seven children under the age of 11, said: “Education is the basis of society.”
Students started the day with a boost of support from Quebec’s largest labour unions and political opposition parties.
Parti Québecois leader Pauline Marois attended a news conference with the Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec and the Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec and vowed to cancel any tuition hike if the PQ forms the next government.
“Universities and CEGEPS are paralyzed. All of Quebec is losing,” Marois said.
“This is a new tax for the middle class and it is unacceptable.”
FEUQ leader Martine Desjardins scoffed at the contention by Premier Jean Charest in Quebec City that “the government will never stop listening” to students.
“They are not open to discussion,” Desjardins said. “We have sent letters and emails and we don’t get any answer.”
Charest gave no indication that the government would change its mind about the hikes.
“Hopefully, those who choose to express themselves today will do it peacefully and respectfully,” he said on his way to question period in the National Assembly.
The higher fees, still below the Canadian average, reflect “our willingness to have a world-class post-secondary education system in Quebec,” Charest said.
The students say higher fees mean higher debt for students and their parents, and reject the government’s position that student aid – offered to about 35 per cent of students – will ease the debt burden.
Students have vowed not to stop pressure tactics until they have a tuition freeze.
Gabriel Nadeau-dubois, of the Coalition large de l’association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante, said the next step is to take actions that will disrupt the economy.
“Today was a huge success,” he said. “With 200,000 people in the streets, the government can’t continue to ignore that there is a crisis in the education system.”
kseidman@montrealgazette.com