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May 24, 2012 - No. 76 Quebec Proponents of Tuition Increase and
Special Law
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 Charest's desperate next move: "If this continues, I'll have to start arresting anyone with two last names!" (André-Philippe Côté, Le Soleil) |
"I get the impression that the CAQ was always guided by
the polls and that they forgot the greater interests of Quebec," said
Alexis Goudreau from the CAQ's "40 Youth Under 40" group. "The polls
favoured
the hard line and the CAQ was sucked in. I can't live with that."
Goudreau has renounced his membership in the CAQ.
According to Goudreau, there is "profound discomfort" among CAQ members on this question.
To ease tensions, Education Minister Michelle Courchesne says she is ready to meet with the student federations including the Broad Coalition for Student Union Solidarity (CLASSE). "I am ready to resume negotiations right away," she said.
"It's very difficult, what we're going through," said Minister of Natural Resources Clément Gignac, referring to the "social disorder."
"People don't want to go backwards. But, at the same
time, they're asking us to find a solution." Now the "only way to find
[a solution] is to backtrack on tuition fees. It's not obvious..." Mr.
Gignac added.
As for Justice Minister Jean-Marc Fournier, he said, "Normally in a democratic society, we would accept that the law be applied and respected."
"We can't ask the government to totally bow in favour of those in the street, to those in favour of disorder and vandalism. Otherwise what will follow?" he asked.
The Special Law was passed by a democratically elected Parliament, Jean Charest hastened to add. He is trying to defend the Special Law and disinform public opinion further so that it is maintained. Minister of Public Security Robert Dutil called a press conference to argue that the law doesn't "block demonstrations" but puts them in a "framework."
"Civil disobedience is a nice word for vandalism," said Minister Fournier. Like his colleague Minister Courchesne, he laments that too few speak of the "right to education."
May 22 marked 100 days that the students and their allies have been stepping up their actions against the tuition fee increase and for all those proponents of the anti-social and anti-national offensive this is a new challenge.
It's not for nothing that many of them point out that if the students aren't happy they have only to wait for the next election. What the Liberals cannot forgive is that the students and their allies refuse to be marginalized. They oppose the notion that to respect the democratic institutions is to accept confines which are not acceptable.
It is worth mentioning that all these "democrats" plan to call on the RCMP to relieve the exhausted police force.
Students Refuse to Capitulate
 "We won't negotiate social retrogression!"; "Defend public right!" |
Unless the Special Law is suspended, there is no question of the Quebec Federation of University Students (FEUQ) returning to the bargaining table, its president Martine Desjardins said.
As for Léo Bureau-Blouin, president of the Quebec Federation of College Students (FECQ), he said that if there were a "next time" it would have to be a "real dialogue."
Regarding the participation of the Broad Coalition of Student Union Solidarity (CLASSE), the Education Minister had this to say: "If CLASSE wants to be there, I do not object." She then added that an association that promotes civil disobedience would not want to "sit down at the table."
CLASSE responded saying that their "confidence in the government is not at its best." However, spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois made it known that he would be present at any eventual meeting with the minister even though "he wouldn't have a smile" on his face.
Support the Just Struggle
of the Students!
(Translated from original French by TML Daily)
Education Minister Invites Students to Negotiate on Condition They Give Up Their Demands
The Education Minster has
renewed her invitation to the student associations to negotiate so long
as they abandon their demands for a tuition fee freeze or moratorium
and the suspension of the Special Law under which the Montreal Police
(SPVM) are proceeding with unprecedented mass arrests.
Regarding the moratorium, Quebec Federation of University Students (FEUQ) President Martine Desjardins said the Federation would bring "a thesaurus" to the negotiating table to ensure "that other words are found."
"It's all well and good to say the lines are open but if there are no means of action put forward, we won't get out of this crisis," she said, adding that she is still waiting for a "proposal for a meeting" with the minister.
Quebec Federation of College Students President, Léo Bureau-Blouin hopes that the expected resumption of talks will come from an "obligation to get results." "It's been three or four times we've gone to Quebec City to negotiate and we still don't have results for multiple reasons. The idea is that we find a way for there to be an obligation to achieve results and that we're not just talking for the sake of talking," he said.
The Broad Coalition of Student Union Solidarity (CLASSE) is still waiting for a call from the Minister's office, according to the organization's media spokesperson, Renaud Poirier-St-Pierre.
The Education Minister and the Premier replayed their usual line that "the government gave in on loans, bursaries and debt repayment proportional to income, and extending [the tuition fee increase]. The government has made several gestures, but each time we have extended our hand, it has been rejected. Despite this, our door remains open."
(Translated from original French by TML Daily)
May 23 -- A Night of Mass Arrests to
Test the Special
Law
While the Education Minister extended her invitation to negotiate, the Montreal police (SPVM) proceeded to arrest 518 people in Montreal alone, the largest mass arrest since the start of the conflict, at the 30th consecutive nocturnal demonstration in which no less than 5,000 people participated.
They were arrested under a municipal bylaw for unlawful assembly. Twelve of them were arrested for alleged specific criminal acts. They were transported like common criminals on 17 buses and taken to the detention centre for processing and identification. They received fines of $630 to $1,000. Needless to say the majority of demonstrators will contest them.
Hundreds of people for their part demonstrated their support by joining the tintamarre of pots and pans. A tintamarre is an Acadian tradition of marching through the streets with improvised instruments. The tintamarre from the neighbourhoods of Rosemont, Villeray, Plateau and Little Italy then merged in with the nocturnal demonstration in downtown Montreal.
"We won't take it -- it's as simple as that!" said Linda Jolicoeur who joined the tintamarre of more than 250 protestors from the Plateau.
She didn't hesitate to compare the Special Law with the War Measures Act. She said the legislation is "too severe," "useless" and "contributes to increasing the people's outrage." "I am speechless at the government's attitude," she added.
The demonstration was declared illegal even before it started at 8:30 pm since no route was given to the SPVM. Despite the warning to disperse, the police tolerated the demonstration as it covered more than 20 kilometres in three hours.
According to the SPVM spokesperson, the situation deteriorated after midnight. "Objects (rocks, fireworks) were thrown at police. We issued another warning to disperse, after which we proceeded with a group arrest," he said. What he didn't mention was that the calm was broken when police encircled the demonstrators so they could no longer move.
Several demonstrators said they were trapped with no
possibility of escape. Participants said the demonstration was
peaceful. All those watching on television could see the same.
Quebec City
Quebec City Police commandeer six transit buses to transport detained protestors, May 23, 2012.
Quebec City Police commandeer six transit buses to transport detained protestors, May 23, 2012.
In Quebec City, the number of demonstrators was close to 500. The organizers refused to reveal their route and demonstrated until midnight before police proceeded to arrest 170 of them under the Special Law.
"All throughout the march people joined the demonstration and they couldn't have known they were in an illegal demonstration," one participant said. "There were probably people who were arrested that didn't even know the police had declared the demonstration illegal," he added.
Many supporters of the demonstrators massed along the length of the police security perimeter. One after the other they applauded those arrested. The police were strongly denounced.
The arrested protestors were released in different parts of the city to prevent them from regrouping. They will be mailed a ticket under the Highway Safety Code or a fine under the Special Law.
(Translated from original French by TML Daily. Photos: McGill Daily, N. Lachance)
Montreal's Response to Charest's Special Law -- Demonstrations Break Out All Over the Island
Thousands participate in the manifs de casseroles or tintamarre that are spreading across the island of Montreal in protest of the Charest government and its attacks on the students and civil liberties. Maps show the number and breadth of the actions (also viewable by clicking here). (A. Guedon)
At 8:00 pm the island of Montreal resonates with the
sounds of the "casseroles" -- the banging of pots and pans in the
streets to show support for the students and opposition to the Special
Law. It is a tradition started in Chile against the Pinochet
dictatorship which has now taken on a life of its own on the streets of
Montreal as the street corner protests held between 8:00 and 8:15 pm
quickly developed into demonstrations held in violation of the Special
Law. Many such demonstrations were held on the night of May 23. The
movement has gained such magnitude that the word "casserole" was the
highest trending word on Twitter across Canada.
Union Says Bus Drivers Have Right to Say No
Montreal's public bus drivers' union has issued a notice to its members, encouraging them to refuse to drive Montreal police or detainees during demonstrations, as is customary in the city.
Last week, a bus driver found himself in a situation where he was driving a tactical squad and was told to go through a protest, said union spokesperson Tom Moutheros. Drivers should have the right to refuse involvement in potentially tense standoffs, he affirmed.
Moutheros called Bill 78 a law fit for a totalitarian state "and it's not right," he said.
Across the Country and Abroad
Expressions of Support for Quebec Students Abound
Across Canada and around the world, there is widespread
and growing support for the fight of the Quebec students for their
right to education and condemnation of the Charest government's
draconian Special Law which seeks to criminalize the students' right to
resist and organize, as well as that of anyone else who opposes its
dictate. President of the Quebec Federation of University Students
Martine Desjardins on May 22 spoke about the scope of international
support for the Quebec students and their just stand. "There are
demonstrations in New York, Vancouver and Paris. I will be talking to
people in Russia and earlier I spoke with Switzerland. The movement's
popularity has gone international and is undeniable," she said.
At 4:00 pm on May 22, some 400 people -- students, some
teachers and activists in Vancouver -- responded to the call of the
University of British Columbia Social Justice Committee to support the
Quebec students. Committee member Gregory Williams emceed the rally.
Several student representatives spoke about the necessity to condemn
the Charest government's Special Law, Bill 78, and support the just
demand of Quebec students to freeze tuition. They spoke about the
situation of post-secondary students in BC who face extraordinarily
high tuition. It has reached the point where students' tuition fees
contribute a greater proportion of funding for post-secondary education
than do provincial government grants, the students pointed out. Charles
Boylan, Vice-President of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators
(FPSE) Local 21, spoke about the resolutions adopted at the 32nd annual
general meeting of the FPSE on May 18 to support the Quebec students
and condemn the Charest government and Bill 78. Following the rally,
people took to the streets of downtown
Vancouver.
On May 22, Calgarians held two picket and leafleting
actions in support of Quebec students and in opposition to the
suspension of civil liberties in Quebec. The first was held at the
Stephen Ave. Pedestrian Mall in downtown Calgary during lunch hour. The
second took place at the corner of Macleod Trail and 7 Ave. SE near
City Hall and the Library during the evening rush hour. Hundreds of
people
took leaflets and expressed their opposition and anger towards the
Charest government's abuse of power.
On Tuesday May 22, while the streets of Montreal
overflowed with people, Hamilton community members took to the downtown
core to distribute an information leaflet on the student strike, the
mass mobilization in Quebec and the regressive bill which suspends
civil liberties. They joined the weekly distribution session of Local
1005 USW, who are familiar with governments and monopolies refusing to
negotiate. For this reason, the workers immediately saw the
significance of Bill 78 and the urgent need to oppose it. The leaflet
was well received and many joined in lively discussion on the right of
all to education. The "Carré Rouge" of the student movement was
also distributed and worn with pride by all of those in attendance.
Concerned community members then held an open meeting the following
night to discuss further the strike, the bill and its implications for
those who oppose the social wrecking by governments, who represent the
interests of the monopolies and not the public. They decided to leaflet
again on Tuesdays at 3:30 pm at the corner of King and James,
outside Jackson Square. For more information please contact
opposebill78@gmail.com.
On May 23, the Windsor Peace Coalition held its monthly meeting where the topic of discussion was the significance of Bill 78 passed on May 18 by the Charest government against the students of Quebec. Participants denounced the Special Law and expressed their vigorous support for the Quebec students fighting for their right to education.
As the Montreal demonstration got underway at 2:00 pm on
May 22, a
group of
people gathered at the Quebec Government Office in New York and
marched along 48th Street. The rally was organized by the Occupy
movement and student associations, including the City University
of New York (CUNY). Actions continued into the evening.
In Paris some
500 people gathered for a lively rally. "We admire the Quebec students'
fight," said geneticist
Axel
Khan, President of the Paris Descartes University.
"The fact that these students reject the vision that education is for
sale is very important for us. I don't know if they'll win,
but things will never be the same," he added.
(Photos: TML Daily G. Depalo, M. Bush/Media Coop, Nikos_NET, C. Patterson)
Canadian Association of University Teachers Condemn's Quebec's Bill 78
Quebec special law violates student rights and civil liberties
The Canadian Association of University Teachers is strongly condemning Quebec's Bill 78, the law tabled in Quebec to end the 14-week student strike, for violating fundamental freedoms of association, assembly, and expression. "This special law is a terrible act of mass repression," said James L. Turk, executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers. "The Quebec government has opted to exert the heavy hand of the law as a weapon to suppress dissent."
Bill 78 makes it illegal to engage in peaceful assembly, a fundamental freedom guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The law limits assemblies of 10 or more people [changed to 50 in the amended bill -- TML Ed. Note], allows the government to defund student associations, imposes hefty fines on student demonstrators, and forces employees back to work. The law especially targets leaders of student associations who could be individually fined up to $35,000 for continuing to demonstrate contrary to the law. For participating in a second demonstration, the fine doubles. For a student association supporting a demonstration, the initial fine is up to $125,000 and doubles to $250,000 for a second offense.
The bill changes the law for class actions so that student and other supportive associations can be more easily sued. It also reverses the burden of proof so that student associations, faculty associations and unions are liable for any damage caused by a third party in a demonstration unless they can prove that the damage was unrelated to the demonstration.
As well, the bill criminalizes anyone expressing support for demonstrations that are contrary to the bill -- subjecting any individual Canadian to fines of up to $5,000, organizational representatives to fines of $35,000 and their organizations to fines of $125,000.
Already, the bill has received strong criticism from the Quebec Bar Association, student groups, labour organizations, and civil liberties groups. "Now, more than ever, the rest of Canada needs to be pinning on a red felt square showing their support for the students of Quebec and for civil liberties," said Turk. "Bill 78 needs to be defeated in the name of democracy or the rest of Canada should be joining the students on the streets."
The Canadian Association of University
Teachers is the national voice of more than 68,000 academic and general
staff in more than 120 universities and colleges. A PDF of the
statement may be found here.
Letter from Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of
BC to
Quebec Student Associations
Association of Student Union Solidarity (ASSÉ)
Quebec Federation of College Students (FECQ)
Quebec Federation of University Students (FEUQ)
One behalf of the 10,000 faculty and staff who work and teach in British Columbia's post-secondary institutions, I am writing to express our solidarity with your organizations and our opposition to the draconian legislative actions of the Charest government. Bill 78 is a regressive and punitive attack on post-secondary students in Quebec, an attack that displays a complete disregard for your rights as citizens and students.
The legislation makes the process of public dissent virtually impossible. Moreover, the provisions of Bill 78 establish significant fines and penalties not only for those who protest publicly, but also for organizations that are deemed to be in support of a public protest. Both measures contravene basic protections that all Canadians enjoy under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Along with unions, civil liberty organizations and progressive allies across Canada, FPSE is lending our voice and support for your right to freely express your opposition. Together, through a growing alliance that is opposed to Bill 78, we can pressure Premier Charest to withdraw the legislation and in its place move forward with an open and sincere resolve to address the issues raised by your organizations.
In Solidarity,
Cindy Oliver
FPSE President
Letter from Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of
BC
to Premier Charest
With over 10,000 faculty and staff who work and teach in BC's post-secondary institutions within our ranks, the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators (FPSE) maintains an active voice on the issues that affect post-secondary education in Canada. Your government's tabling and passage of Bill 78 is a regressive and punitive attack on post-secondary students in Quebec, an attack that displays a complete disregard for their rights as citizens and students.
The legislation makes the process of public dissent virtually impossible. Moreover, the provisions of Bill 78 establish significant fines and penalties not only for those who protest publicly, but also for organizations that are deemed to be in support of a public protest. Both measures contravene basic protections that all Canadians enjoy under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Describing Bill 78 as draconian doesn't begin to express the repressive and antidemocratic dimensions of the legislation. It is no surprise that a broad cross-section of Canadian and Quebec organizations, including the Quebec Bar Association, the labour movement in Quebec and across Canada as well as student organizations and civil liberties groups, have all condemned the legislation as excessive and counterproductive.
The fact that the legislation has only inflamed the ongoing protest by students in Quebec over your plan to increase tuition fees is another indication of just how misplaced and ill-considered your legislation has become. It's time for you to show true leadership and recognize the problems that Bill 78 is creating for your government and your province. Withdraw Bill 78. Pledge to work with faculty and students to restore calm throughout Quebec's post-secondary education system. But above all, respect the right of citizens to openly express their views on issues that affect them. In the absence of those rights, your government will continue to lose the confidence of citizens and voters alike.
In solidarity,
Cindy Oliver
FPSE President
Nova Scotia Students Express Support
Students at the University of King's College in Halifax wrote the Quebec student associations expressing support for their just cause.
"While students in Quebec may be facing different circumstances than those in Nova Scotia we share the same fight against cuts to our social services and an increasingly underfunded education system," King's College student union officials wrote. "Your student movement has served as a source of inspiration for us here in Nova Scotia and we respect your memberships' decision to stay on strike as a necessary step in fighting the ever-increasing price of an education," their letter added.
The student union also said it was sending its stock of red felt squares to the striking students because stores in Montreal have run out.
Edmonton District Labour Council Passes Resolution in
Support of Quebec Students
On May 22, workers attending the monthly membership meeting of the Edmonton District Labour Council discussed and then passed the following resolution supporting the just struggle of the Quebec students:
Whereas students in Quebec are in day 100 of their strike against tuition fee increases and to provide the right to education with a guarantee;
And whereas the Charest government has refused to negotiate with the students but instead on May 18 passed draconian legislation to suspend civil liberties in Quebec, and criminalize the students and everyone who assists them;
And whereas Quebecers are opposing Bill 78, the Special Law on an unprecedented scale, with Quebeckers from all walks of life including the unions denouncing the law and joining the protest movement;
And whereas students are taking the stand that the Quebec people cannot submit to this bill.
Be it resolved that the Edmonton and District Labour Council stands with the students in their fight against the tuition fee hikes and against the suspension of civil liberties and attacks on the rights of students and all of Quebec society and call on its affiliates to do the same;
And that the EDLC stand with the Confederation of the National Trade Unions (CSN), the Quebec Trade Union Central (CSQ) and the Quebec Federation of Labour (FTQ) in calling on the government to rescind the law and to negotiate in good faith with the students for an end to the crisis.
Edmonton Meeting to Discuss and Take a Stand on the Draconian Legislation Adopted Against Quebec Students and their Right to Resist and Organize
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On May 23, mass arrests took place of students and their allies in both Montreal and Quebec City under the new Special law passed by the Charest government which suspends civil liberties. 400 people in Montreal and 170 in Quebec City are each faced with penalties of $650 a person for exercising their right to demonstrate peacefully. This brings the total number of arrests of Quebec students to nearly 2,000.
Meanwhile, the majority of Quebeckers are standing as one with students. Following the half million strong demonstration in Montreal on May 22, on May 23 more than twenty "casserole" demonstrations were held in Montreal supporting the students and opposing the Special Law, in addition to the two major demonstrations in which thousands of students participated. The manifs de casseroles are where neighbourhoods come into the street a 8 pm to on bang pots and pans. These are now also becoming demonstrations considered illegal under the Special Law.
The students are fighting against tuition hikes which will deprive thousands of students of their right to education because they don't qualify for loans or bursaries and it will dramatically increase the debt burden of thousands more. Jean Charest says that the refusal of the students to pay a measly 50 cents a day increase in fees shows they are spoiled brats who don't treasure an education while their strike is depriving others of their right to education. The government says its decision to impose the fees and suspend civil liberties is democratic because it is an elected majority government and represents the Quebec people, while the students, who take every decision in a general membership assembly and elect their spokespersons, are acting undemocratically and deserve to have their right to organize taken away. Meanwhile, the banks are making millions of dollars on guaranteed student loans and money allotted for education is used to pay construction companies and others for unnecessary infrastructure through "public-private partnerships" which the students consider a huge waste.
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