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June 23, 2012 - No. 94 131st Day of Quebec Students' Strike Mass Demonstrations Affirm
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 "We won't negotiate social retrogression!" |
On June 20, the Quebec Federation of College Students (FECQ) announced that a Leger Marketing survey had found that 71 per cent of the population thinks the government should accept the students' request for mediation. "Mr. Charest is holding a contradictory discourse. He prides himself on making responsible decisions, but is closed to the mediation process that a large majority of people support, which would end the crisis that has lasted for months," said FECQ president Éliane Laberge. On the issue of elections she added, "The government is faced with two choices: resolve the student crisis or use it for political and electoral gains. We invite Mr. Charest to resolve the conflict rather than call an election on a crisis basis."
The FECQ issued an appeal in a press release to the Charest government on June 18 to send the dispute to mediation. The FECQ President stated, "Given the repeated failure of negotiations and the government's withdrawal of its offer, it has become clear that only a neutral and credible process such as mediation would allow both parties to orchestrate a real end to the crisis." The FECQ asked the Charest government to take action within 48 hours.
The FECQ announced on June 21, in another press release, that the government failed to respond to this offer, and said this demonstrates the Liberal Party of Quebec's intention to perpetuate the student conflict for political purposes. Laberge stated, "How can Mr. Charest speak of responsibility when his government slams the door on negotiations and refuses a credible process that could end the crisis? If the government does not take responsibility for resolving the conflict, I wonder who will?"
Laberge affirmed that the FECQ will stay the course and that it will be an active summer for students to further their cause.
(Translated from original French by TML.)
Federation of University Students Meets with British Columbia Student and Labour Organizations
Martine Desjardins (left)
and Yannick Gregory (right), President and Executive Vice-President of
the Quebec Federation of University
Students (FEUQ), respectively, travelled to Vancouver on June 19 at the
invitation of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) and the BC
Federation of Labour. The aim of the meeting,
held at the Vancouver Public Library, was to share the experiences of
the student movements and mobilization in both provinces, in the
context of opposition to the anti-social policies of governments. "I
want to explain how the student associations have managed to create
this mobilization. For example, setting a
plan of action and following it to the letter really helped. That said,
many elements beyond our control broadened the movement. The
government's mistakes would often revive Quebeckers' anger -- the
Premier's statements, the Special Law [...]," said Martine Desjardins.
CFS representative Katie Marocchi pointed out that there are lessons to be learned from the Quebec student movement. "We have campaigns against rising tuition fees, the reduction of core funding and the issue of bursaries. Our members participate in the evening casseroles [...] The situation in Quebec is also the question of defending our rights and freedom of speech." She said that her organization could benefit from the experience of Quebec to "strengthen its ability to organize."
On the question of future actions, Martine Desjardins explained that the FEUQ is preparing an action plan in time for the five-week period of provincial elections, such as local actions in a dozen constituencies where the MNAs have a smaller majority, including that of Education Minister Michelle Courchesne in the Quebec City region.
Regarding upcoming actions, Desjardins said, "[A]s there are no classes, we are not mobilizing people on campuses. Instead we are seeking visibility at festivals. We will use the Jazz Festival and Just for Laughs Festival, just as we did the Francofolies Festival. We will also participate in activities on St. Jean Baptiste Day. We are demonstrating on Friday, June 22, which will be another important event."
(Translated from original French by TML. Photo: francouver.ca)
Protest Against Premier Charest at
G20 Summit in Brazil
The Broad Coalition of
Student Union Solidarity (CLASSE)
in conjunction with the Independent National Student Association (ANEL)
of Brazil, organized a demonstration in Rio de Janeiro in front of the
Copacabana Hotel where Jean Charest was staying, in support of the
Quebec student
movement and against the Special
Law. The demonstration, part of the Peoples' Summit Rio+20 for
environmental and social justice, rallied more than 200 people.
"We are here to remind Jean Charest that sustainable development is achieved through education, a healthy environment and respect for fundamental rights like the right to association and assembly," said Rushdia Mehreen, CLASSE delegate at the Peoples' Summit. "Jean Charest must recognize that no matter where he goes in the world, we and our allies will constantly remind him that he has no business parading around the world while he ransacks our fundamental rights in Quebec!" she added.
(Translated from original French by TML.)
Artists, Intellectuals and Unions Organize
Action
Against Special Law
An open letter entitled "Artists, intellectuals and unions united against the infamous Special Law," signed by nearly 1,200 people, was delivered on June 21 to the office of Premier Jean Charest by 49 of the signatories.
Among the demonstrators were Sébastien Ricard, Batlam of the rap group Loco Locass, Atim Léon of the Quebec Federation of Labour (FTQ), philospher Christian Nadeau, artist Paul Baillargeon, essayist Jacques Pelletier, writer Denise Boucher, artist Yann Perreau, President of the Autonomous Federation of Teachers (FAE) Pierre Saint-Germain, President of the Quebec National Teachers' Federation (FNEEQ) Caroline Senneville, teacher Damien Contandriopoulos, research institute director Louise Vandelac and more.
The action began in the agora of the University of Quebec in Montreal where, instead of speaking, the artists, intellectuals and union representatives marched to the Premier's office, to symbolize the stifling of speech by this unjust law.
Outraged Comedians Hold Hilarious Show
in Support of Student Cause
On June 18, the Coalition of Outraged Comedians put on a fundraiser comedy show to help finance legal fees to challenge the Special Law. The tagline for the show was: "There's nothing like a comedian to show the farce has gone on too long." The show was a rousing success and greatly appreciated by the crowd. Clips of the jokes about Jean Charest and his antics were repeated on television throughout the day.
Comedian François Massicotte spoke of Jean
Charest's arrogance: "One could swear he's going to vomit every time he
has to say the word 'student,'" he quipped. He then announced the
creation of a casserole for Minister of Education Michelle Courchesne,
calling it a "T-folle" or "Little Crazy." This is a play on the name of
the
cookware T-Fal and the Quebec slang for the word "petit" (little) --
"'tit."
In his act, Daniel Lemire said the police don't
understand how to
use the metric system (a play on the word "matraque" -- to bludgeon).
They don't know the difference "between controlling someone and
bludgeoning them." Claudine Mercier said the Premier is all about
"sustainable development" -- he is both sustaining and
developing the student conflict.
After the show, at about 11:30 pm, some 200 audience members leaving the Théâtre Saint-Denis joined demonstrators in the 56th consecutive nightly protest in Montreal
(Translated from original French by TML. Photo: A. Guedon)
Opposition to Quebec City's New Restrictions on Demonstrations
Quebec City Council's new regulations concerning
demonstrations, adopted on June 19, are being widely opposed.
While the council meeting was held, dozens of people,
including students wearing the red square and representatives of
community groups, entered the room to demonstrate their opposition to
this repressive measure. After they were expelled by police,
demonstrators continued their action in the streets of the city.
Quickly, the police declared this an illegal gathering. Around 3:30 pm,
after encircling the protesters and without giving any order to
disperse, the police arrested 21 people on Saint-Jean Street.
The regulation "on peace and
good order" adopted by the
City of
Quebec and its mayor, Régis Labeaume, provides for fines ranging
between $150 and $1,000 for those camping in a city park between 11:00
pm and 5:00 am. This amount increases to $2,000 for repeat offences.
The regulation also requires protesters
to submit their route in advance, without which an event will be
declared illegal, as has been the case since the beginning of student
protests. In addition, the regulations will also prohibit a gathering
on public property between 11:00 pm and 5:00 am.
These new regulations governing demonstrations and the use of parks are for purposes of criminalizing the youth, many point out. Very few people had the opportunity to be present at the Council's special session. Those who were said they were unable to participate: the issues could not be addressed until after the regulation's adoption. Only three independent members voted against the new rules that the city wanted to quickly put in place before the June 22 demonstration and Quebec's National Day on June 24. These laws, like the anti-mask law in Montreal and the Charest government's Bill 78, have been adopted at a time when the mobilization against the anti-social policies of the various levels of governments is very high and rumours abound of provincial elections later this year.
This regulation has outraged many social groups. "Many organizations like ours hold annual actions and spontaneous demonstrations. It is sometimes done as part of election campaigns. We directly challenge the candidates and, of course, we do not announce in advance to the Quebec police because obviously, our action would be completely neutralized," said the spokesman of the St. Jean Baptiste Popular Committee, Mathieu Houle-Courcelles. The organization has also raised some questions regarding the regulation on its website. An excerpt of the regulation is printed below with comments by the St. Jean Baptiste Popular Committee in square brackets.
***
REGULATION R.V.Q. 1959
REGULATIONS AMENDING THE PEACE AND GOOD ORDER REGARDING EVENTS, MEETINGS, PARADES AND GATHERINGS
QUEBEC CITY, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY, DECREES AS FOLLOWS:
1. Article 1 of the Regulation on peace and good order, RVQ, 1091 is amended by inserting before the definition of "public space," the following:
"'Demonstration': a rally, a gathering or procession of persons on public property expressing an opinion, dissatisfaction or support to a person, group of persons or a cause."
2. This regulation is amended by inserting after section 19, the following:
19.1. It is unlawful for a person to participate in an activity on public property listed below without obtaining the prior written permission of the competent authority:
[There is no time constraint specified. In district 1, the deadline for using the City for "community" activities is three months. Until now, there was no time constraint if you did not ask for material aid. Must one announce a community event in a park three months in advance (e.g. a BBQ)?]
1. construct, erect, install, remove, maintain, occupy or build, erect, install or remove a structure, tent or other structure, equipment or appliance or that can be used as a shelter;
[Ibid. Must one get permission three months in advance to install a gazebo?]
2. prepare, maintain, light or feed a fire;
3. place, maintain, or use a device or an element belonging to a device powered by a fuel other than a solid combustible fuel or that can be used to cook or warm food;
[Ibid. Must one get permission three months in advance for a BBQ, a sugar shack or a Christmas market?]
For the purposes of this section, the competent authority is the decision maker for Quebec City, the person or officer authorized to exercise the jurisdiction of the City relating to the occupation of the public space under the request for authorization.
19.2. No one person may hold or participate in an illegal demonstration on public property. A demonstration is illegal when one of the following applies:
1. the chief of the Police Service of Quebec City was not informed of the time and location or route of the event;
[There is no time specified. Sometimes, during elections for example, deadlines are very short. Is it reasonable to believe that "chief of the SPVQ" would accept applications after 4:00 pm or on weekends?]
2. the time, place or route of the event which was submitted to the police department is not respected;
3. acts of violence or vandalism were committed.
19.3. It is forbidden to be in a park between 11:00 pm and 5:00 am the next day.
[This article targets whom, the protesters or the homeless?]
19.4. It is forbidden to participate in or be present at a gathering on public property between 11:00 pm and 5:00 am the next day.
[This article targets whom, the protesters or party animals? Is it forbidden to relax in groups in public places, such as Place d'Youville, on summer evenings after 11:00 pm?]
19.5. It is forbidden to interfere with the movement of people on a sidewalk, a plaza or walkway or to deprive them of normal use of the public space.
[This article targets whom, the protesters or the
regulars of the
Saint-Roch Church courtyard and Place Jacques Cartier? Who would be
blamed
the most, student activists or street youth?]
Organizations Express Opposition to Special Law
Opposition to the Charest government's Bill 78
continues. In recent days and weeks, various organizations in Quebec,
across Canada and abroad have made public their opposition to the
Special Law and their support for the student movement.
Athabasca University Education Workers
CUPE Local 3911 has passed a motion supporting the Edmonton and District Labour Council (EDLC) Resolution of May 20 in support of the Quebec students and against Special Law Bill 78. CUPE Local 3911 represents over 300 tutors, academic experts, markers and lab instructors employed by Athabasca University, which is located in Alberta. The text of the EDLC Resolution can be found in TML Daily, May 24, 2012 - No. 76.
British Columbia Federation of Labour
On June 7, the BC Federation of Labour issued a statement that reads:
"At a time when it is universally recognized that ever higher levels of education and skills training are required for our nation to generate wealth and for young Canadians to fully participate in tomorrow's economy, it is unacceptable for any government to lower access to college and university.
"Affordable and accessible education is one of the key tenets of a free and fair society, in which all have the opportunity to reach their full potential regardless of their family income or background.
[...]
"We join our Sisters and Brothers across Canada in congratulating the students of Quebec for standing up for what's right, and urge the government of Quebec to negotiate with Quebec students to end this strike, while keeping education in Quebec accessible and affordable for all.
"In response to the effectiveness of the protests of
Quebec students, the Quebec government has passed legislation that
restricts the rights of Quebec citizens to freely assemble and to
protest. We condemn this action and call on the government of Quebec to
immediately repeal Bill 78 and its unconstitutional restrictions
on freedom of assembly."
School of Social Work, University of Montreal
On June 12, the School of Social Work at the University of Montreal adopted the following resolution against the Special Law during an extraordinary departmental assembly:
"Considering that:
- The transmission of academic knowledge can not be
constrained;
- University education is based on the free exercise of critical
thinking;
- Trust is the foundation of the pedagogical relationship between
students and teachers;
- The University of Montreal and its management are committed to the
welfare of the entire university community and creating a climate
conducive to teaching;
- Bill 78 threatens these essential conditions of teaching in academia;
- Bill 78 imposes the role of informer on teachers and makes impossible
the exercise of our profession under calm conditions in keeping with
the "Mission of Excellence" at our university;
- Bill 78 deliberately and falsely confuses 'accessible facilities' and
'accessibility to higher education';
- Bill 78 restricts the exercise of certain fundamental rights of
teachers, students and citizens;
- Bill 78 has a detrimental effect on physical and mental health, to
which teachers, non-teaching staff and students have repeatedly
expressed their alarm.
"The departmental assembly of the School of Social Work calls on the rector to request the government withdraw Bill 78 and conclude a negotiated agreement with all the student associations that is satisfactory to all parties involved including teachers, so as to allow the resumption of classes."
Canadian Union of Postal Workers Local 460, Valleyfield, Quebec
At a press conference on June 12, Mark Dogget, spokesman
for Local 460 of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers said: "The postal
workers' union decided to take a position as a result of the enactment
of Bill 78, which removes from every individual the right to mobilize
and make demands. All citizens are affected by this legislation. It is
inconceivable that governments [referring also to the federal
government] act like dictators."
He added that Canada Post employees were suspended for wearing the "red
square" in Vaudreuil-Dorion and Baie-Comeau.
"Everyone should have access to knowledge and we should encourage
people to go to university. [...] Accessibility to knowledge helps
reduce the gap between rich and poor in society," added the steward for
the local, Richard Martin.
Quebec Mental Health Groups
The Quebec Association of Advocacy Groups in Defence of Mental Health Rights (AGIDD-QMS) and the Coalition of Alternative Mental Health Resources of Quebec (RRASMQ) adopted a joint resolution on June 13 demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Special Law and expressing their support for the demands of the student movement against rising tuition fees and for the right to education.
Given that the objectives and the provisions of the Special Law affect all citizens, including persons living or having lived with a mental health problem, the organizations' joint resolution states that such objectives and provisions are unacceptable because:
"- They are an attack on the rights and freedoms at the heart of a democracy and deny the rights recognized by the Canadian and Quebec Charters of Rights and Freedoms (right of association, to conscience, of opinion, to expression and peaceful assembly);
"- They give the police arbitrary powers;
"- They attack the rights of student associations with excessive and disproportionate penalties;
"- They remove students' right to strike;
"- They give the Minister of Education excessive powers to dictate to educational institutions, by decree, to cease collecting student contributions;
"- They aim to attack citizens rather than protect them, to deter anyone who wants to collectively raise his or her voice as part of the public debate on the social right to education and rising tuition fees, and any protest movement to challenge social policy in all matters."
The AGIDD-QMS has 24 member organizations and fights for the recognition and defence of rights for people living or having lived with a mental health problem. The RRASMQ brings together nearly one hundred individual alternative community resource groups.
Lethbridge College Students' Association
On June 13, the Lethbridge College Students' Association expressed its solidarity with students in Quebec. The association writes, "At a time when student debt is rising across the country we applaud the efforts of students in Quebec who -- through their own democratic process -- have decided to take a stand. We find Bill 78 -- legislation aimed at ending student protests -- deeply troubling in restricting the collective bargaining rights of students in Quebec. What happens in Quebec will have an impact on how we view post-secondary education across the country. As students in Alberta, we pay one of the highest tuition rates in the country. Rather than asking why Quebec students pay so little perhaps we should be asking why we pay so much."
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
On Monday, June 18, at the opening of the 20th Session of the UN Council of Human Rights, Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said she was "alarmed" by the situation in Quebec, due to the adoption of the Special Law and its severe restrictions on the right to demonstrate.
"Moves to restrict freedom of assembly in many parts of the world are alarming," she said. "In the context of student protests, I am disappointed by the new legislation passed in Quebec that restricts their rights to freedom of association and of peaceful assembly."
Canadian Peace Congress
On June 18, the Executive Council of the Canadian Peace Congress issued a statement condemning the Special Law and giving its full support to the Quebec students.
"By subjecting the right to protest to police permission and control, Bill 78 attacks the main vehicle for mobilization to stop the mounting imperialist wars and military spending of the Canadian government under Stephen Harper. The same police repression which uses rubber bullets, sound bombs, and mass arrests and detention against peaceful students was also used against anti-G20 protests in Toronto in 2010, and could be used next against the peace movement and other progressive forces. The student strike in Quebec has been winning broad support, including from the labour movement, to defeat this repression and prevent it from advancing to even further stages.
"Bill 78 and the accompanying police violence are part of a deliberate and accelerating growth of militarism in Canada, a policy emanating from the Harper Conservatives in Ottawa and echoed by many provincial and municipal governments. These developments represent the interests of corporate Canada, who promote an increasingly aggressive foreign policy for Canada. The main vehicle for this international role is NATO, through which Canada participated in the wars on Afghanistan and Libya, and is driving toward new wars on Syria and Iran.
[...]
"The Canadian Peace Congress calls on all peace
organizations to bring attention to the dangers of Bill 78 so that it
can be defeated, and to provide solidarity to the student strike in
Quebec."
Vancouver and District Labour Council
The following resolution was introduced and passed at the June 19 meeting of the Vancouver and District Labour Council:
BECAUSE the Quebec students are continuing their lengthy strike in an effort to stop the plans of the Charest government to implement significant tuition increases which will reduce the accessibility of education for students.
BECAUSE the Charest government has cracked down on the student demonstrators with unprecedented new legislation in the form of Bill 78 which attempts to criminalize public protest without government approval.
BECAUSE the students are fighting this authoritarian and anti-democratic law through the courts as well as a new form of protest called the "casserole" wherein demonstrators gather or march while banging pots and pans.
THE VANCOUVER AND DISTRICT LABOUR COUNCIL WILL participate in, and encourage its affiliates to participate in, the casserole protests being organized weekly in the Vancouver area; and
THE VANCOUVER AND DISTRICT LABOUR COUNCIL WILL donate $250 to the CLASSE legal defense fund to help fight Bill 78 and encourage its affiliates to donate to the fund as well.
Weekly Pickets in Hamilton
Corner of King & James
For information: OpposeBill78@gmail.com
Organizers call on everyone to "Join us for our weekly information distribution on the Quebec student movement, Bill-78 and how it all relates to us here in Ontario as we stand in defence of the rights of all. Not up for handing out flyers? That's ok, there is something for everyone! Hold a banner or just come to talk with other concerned people."
(Translated from original French by TML.)
Photo Review
Demonstrations in Support of Students and
to Oppose the Special Law
Montreal
Students and their supporters held several demonstrations in the lead up to June 22 Day of Action. In Montreal, the nocturnal demonstrations have now been going on for 60 consecutive nights. Each evening the action is declared illegal by the police but students and supporters continue to march
On June 19, employees of the National Library in
Montreal, who have been without a contract for a year, used their
weekly Thursday action in defence of their working conditions to also
demonstrate against their employer's ban on wearing the red square.
National Library employees' demonstration, June 19, 2012, Montreal.
56th Consecutive Nocturnal
Demonstration
54th Consecutive Nocturnal Demonstration
Loco Locass Performance, June 15
On Friday, June 15, members of the rap group Loco Locass invited everyone to their performance during the Francofolies in Montreal and to come with their pans to show their support for the student movement.
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
Québec; Limoilou
Joliette
Trois-Rivières
(Photos: TML, N. Phébus, M. Sylvestre, J. Lavoie, Boîte Rouge, Eva Blue,WordPress)
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