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October 6, 2009 - No. 182

Quebec Students Oppose Paying the Rich

Reject Claims by Parties of the Rich that Education
Is a Privilege! Education Is a Right!


"Education is a right not a privilege; free education is a national priority"

Reject Claims by Parties of the Rich that Education Is a Privilege! Education Is a Right! - Parti Marxiste-Léninist du Québec
Vigorous Protest against Bills 38 and 44

Statements
Association for Student Union Solidarity (ASSÉ)
Quebec Federation of College Students
Quebec Federation of University Students
National Teachers Federation of Quebec
Student Association of Jonquière Cégep
Montérégie Student Associations


Quebec Students Oppose Paying the Rich

Reject Claims by Parties of the Rich that Education
Is a Privilege! Education Is a Right!

The Liberal Party of Quebec at its September 27 policy convention adopted a proposal to institute tuition fees at the college level. This must not pass. Already, the problem facing Premier Jean Charest is how to get the students to accept the government's attacks at a time workers and the population at large have sided with the students in their fight against cuts to education funding.

Since 2003, the Liberal government has used the police to attack student occupations, demonstrations and other actions, as well as decrees, in an attempt to suppress the student movement's just demands for the recognition of their right to a public education free of cost through to post-graduate studies. The Charest government has taken one measure after another to criminalize participation in the resolution of the problems in education on the part of students, their parents and personnel in education. This is what it did with its anti-worker and anti-union laws, all passed through closure despite broad opposition, with the aim of weakening the ability of workers and their organizations to defend their rights.


March 16, 2005: Quebec students demonstrate in Montreal against the cuts to education by the Charest government.

Already, the Liberal government is pursuing its policy of thawing the tuition freeze so that "students do their part." In 2011, undergraduate tuition fees will amount to $2,168, an increase of 30 percent. During the last election, Pauline Marois, leader of the Parti Québécois -- well-known for its role of divesting from education in the '90s when it was in power -- proposed that tuition fees be frozen until a "Summit for Education" is held. In other words, its position is no different from the Liberal Party except that it calls for a respite of a few months prior to lifting the tuition freeze. The tendency of the PQ to advocate for the anti-social offensive by "consensus" goes back to the PQ government of Lucien Bouchard when it used the occasion of an Economic Summit to promote reaching an alleged consensus in favour of "zero deficit" economic policies.

The uproar about the imposition of college tuition fees must not be used to detract attention from the increasingly onerous so-called ancillary fees. None of the parties of the rich has proposed measures to resolve this pressing problem of fees at colleges and universities. It is a prerogative of deregulation which permits cégeps and universities to impose ancillary fees on top of tuition fees with all manner of justifications, thus using "ancillary fees" to circumvent the "freeze" on tuition fees.

Students reject the government's forcing them to bear the burden of its decision to underfund education. For more than 15 years, governments have underfunded education, health care and all the social services in a brutal anti-social offensive so as to pay the rich. This offensive intensified with the economic crisis and the so-called budget crisis of the Charest government and its policy of paying the monopolies.

Just like they sold off Quebec's human and natural resources to the monopolies, the Liberal Party of Quebec, the PQ and the ADQ are continuing to refuse to recognize that education is a right, not a privilege, which society must guarantee in practice.

The discussion which presents the cuts to education as a matter concerning only students is false. It negates the fact that in the modern era, all human beings are born to society and have claims on that society. Students, teachers and professionals are fighting with the support of the working class and people for the right to education to be provided with a guarantee. With its program to demand that the state stop paying the rich and increase investments in social programs, the Marxist-Leninist Party of Quebec (PMLQ) is proposing a new direction for Quebec in which education is recognized as a right and the education system is based on this principle which means:

1. Increase investments in education.
2. Immediately stop tuition hikes, and decrease fees until tuition is free.
3. Transform the system of loans and bursaries into a national scholarship program.
4. Abolish ancillary fees.
5. Impose a limit on and reduce tuition fees for international students and facilitate their access to employment.

It's Time to Set a New Direction for Quebec!
Stop Paying the Rich; Increase Funding for Social Programs!

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Vigorous Protest against Bills 38 and 44

On October 1, more than 500 people responded to the call of the Association for Student Union Solidarity (ASSÉ) to gather at 12:30 at Berri Square to demand the withdrawal of Bills 38 and 44 regarding colleges and universities. Since being tabled by Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, Michelle Courchesne, the bills have provoked strong opposition in the education community as illustrated by the presence at the demonstration of several student associations, federations and unions from colleges and universities.

ASSÉ spokesman Christian Pepin addressed the demonstrators, saying the bills attempt to "conceal the true crisis in education in Quebec, that is to say, the commodification of education."

"We must remember that UQAM administration lacked funding that's why they turned to the private sector," he added, referring to the financial scandal of UQAM's Îlot Voyageur project in downtown Montreal next to Berri-UQAM metro. Remarkably, in response to the scandal Minister Courchesne tabled Bill 38 to give the private sector a large role in education under the hoax of improving governance of universities by increasing the number of "independent" directors. A student holding a placard that read: "Buy a college, call 1-800-Courchesne" told the media that with these bills, "the private sector takes over the management of colleges and universities and uses them for their own gain."

If the bill is adopted, university boards will be composed of 60 percent so-called independent members which means that as the Quebec Federation of University Students (FEUQ) pointed out during consultations on the bill, no places are reserved for students on these boards.

Many signs and slogans reflected the aspiration of students, teachers and employees of colleges and universities to participate in all decisions which affect them.

In front of the offices of the Ministry of Education the representative of the Quebec Federation of University Teachers (FQPPU) asked that the federation be informed on the overall situation in the education sector. "If we have an exact idea of the current state of universities in Quebec, we can then provide a development plan that is consistent," said Max Roberts, president of FQPPU.

In a joint statement from university and college students distributed during the event, students expressed their opposition to the commodification of education, as well as the use of performance criteria based on the economic viability of programs of study. This threatens areas of study needed to develop a modern society, the students point out.

For this reason, unions and associations are demanding:

- Withdrawal of Bills 38 and 44;
- That the management of institutions of higher education be primarily the responsibility of cégeps and universities based on the principle of collegiality;
- Recognition of the missions of cégeps and universities, for education, research and in service of their responsibility to take stock of the past, present and future through the preservation, development and transmission of knowledge;
- A massive reinvestment in post-secondary education to ensure quality and accessibility of education in Quebec.

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College Tuition Fees: "Unacceptable!" ASSÉ Claims

The Association for Student Union Solidarity (ASSÉ) is outraged by the decision taken at the Quebec Liberal Party (QLP) Convention to introduce college tuition fees. "The direct consequence of this Liberal measure will be to hinder access to studies," ASSÉ spokesperson Christian Pépin declared.

"Contrary to what the QLP claims, unfreezing tuition hinders access to studies. Proof of this is the recent unfreezing of tuition fees at the university level which, based on a government study, will prevent 6,000 students from being in school. Once again the Liberal government is pursuing a harmful user-pay logic for students by making them pay for the shifts in the economic system that they themselves promoted," the outraged ASSÉ spokesperson said.

ASSÉ also points out that there presently exist what are known as "mushroom" administrative fees in Quebec, whereby administrations are able to conceal the fact that they are collecting fees from students. ASSÉ, determined to establish real free schooling at the college level in Quebec, is opposed to this type of fee.

"Setting up fees for public services is not the solution to Quebec's present recession. Whether it be increased fees for education or for Hydro-Québec or down the road for day care and health care, our response remains the same: no to all fee hikes!," Christian Pépin said. "Within the context of the economic crisis, the less fortunate require more, not less, access to essential services. Amongst other things, the government should instead propose solutions to avoid tax evasion and set up a more progressive taxation system in Quebec," he said.

ASSÉ, the only national student association which combines members of all higher levels of education, presently has over 40,000 members Quebec-wide. Since its founding, it has been active in working for access to a free public and quality education system. Information: Anne-Marie Provost, ASSÉ Communications Secretary, (514) 882-8726; ASSÉ Office: (514) 390-0110; www.asse-solidarite.qc.ca

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College Tuition Fees: Students Want Answers

Late this afternoon, by a very slim majority, the Quebec Liberal Party's General Council adopted a resolution aimed at imposing college tuition fees. This state of affairs is of concern to the Quebec Federation of College Students (FECQ), which finds it odd that such a decision was taken without any real consideration.

Actually, some 50 college activists butted heads this morning in Drummondville with Liberal delegates ill-informed about the issues being raised at their General Council. Bent on having dialogue with party delegates, the students distributed flyers and held discussions with Liberal activists. Some of them, members of the QLP's Political Committee, said they were surprised by the proposal to institute college tuition fees, even affirming they had not been informed of this prior to the tabling of the proposal.

FECQ activists then presented testimony to Michelle Courchesne, the Minister of Education, Leisure and Sports from students who would be seriously affected by such a measure. "This morning's action was an attempt at dialogue, to warn the Liberals not to impose college fees. The message we sent was that between now and 2012, 210,000 jobs will require at least a college studies diploma and we are those 210,000 people. If the Liberal Party thinks that it can turn the economy around without the youth, then it had better think again," declared FECQ President Xavier Lefebvre Boucher.

"Because of where things stand right now, we are asking Madame Courchesne to clarify her government's position on the matter," Lefebvre Boucher concluded.

The Quebec Federation of College Students (FECQ) represents over 40,000 students in 21 cégeps across Quebec. Information: Ariane Brisson, Vice-President FECQ, cell: (514) 554-0576

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Premier Must Clarify General Council's Position and Withdraw Tuition Fees from any Future Bill

The position adopted by the Quebec Liberal Party's General Council on increasing fees is of utmost concern to the Quebec Federation of University Students (FEUQ). The Council did not even consider it worthwhile to specify whether or not university tuition fees would be excluded from any future bill increasing fees. "FEUQ is requesting that Jean Charest, the premier and [former Canadian] minister of State for Youth, clarify his party's intentions and exclude tuition fees from any future bill on fees for public services," declared FEUQ President Jean Grégoire.

The resolution adopted by the General Council indeed requires that all fees be revised and set according to a proportion of the real cost of the service charged for. University tuition fees, presently in the throes of a significant hike, have not been explicitly excluded from the deliberations on fees for public services. Based on a study commissioned by MELS [Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et des Sports] the elimination of the present freeze will prevent between 6,000 and 13,000 students from gaining access to university studies.

Were the resolution to be applied to the letter it would lead to a differentiation in tuition fees based on fields of study, thereby placing Quebec in a precarious position regarding the challenges of a knowledge-based society. Not only would that be an attack on equal opportunity, access to more costly programs such as engineering, medicine or music would be greatly diminished for students from a less well-to-do background, thereby reducing social mobility in Quebec. Tuition fee differentiation would also be akin to abandoning the economic, social and cultural development of the regions, as their universities would find themselves penalized compared with universities in large centres offering more lucrative programs. "FEUQ will be present in consultations on such a bill to underline the importance of an access to learning policy, which would include maintaining tuition fees at an affordable level," noted Grégoire.

FEUQ also denounces the Liberal Party's intention to impose tuition fees, however modest, at the college level. Going ahead with such a measure will only reduce access to post-secondary education while increasing student indebtedness. "A post-secondary diploma is not a hunting permit! It demonstrates Quebec society's ability to perform well in a world where a knowledge-based economy is evermore predominant," Grégoire concluded.

For over 20 years FEUQ has been representing Quebec university students. Comprised of 16 member associations and 125,000 member strong, FEUQ is the most significant youth group in Quebec. Information: Mathieu Le Blanc, Press Attaché-FEUQ, (514) 396-3380, cell: (514) 609-3380, www.feuq.qc.ca

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Imposition of College Tuition Fees: An Aberration

The National Teachers Federation of Quebec (FNEEQ), which includes 80 percent of all cégep teaching staff, denounces the guidelines put forward by the Quebec Liberal Party's General Council regarding the imposition of tuition fees for college studies.

FNEEQ Vice-President Micheline Thibodeau reacted strongly to the Liberal Party guidelines announced over the weekend. Unfortunately, "the idea is not a new one," she said.

FNEEQ has always taken a position encouraging the largest access possible to education, which implies a free, quality education at all levels. Micheline Thibodeau noted that the establishment of a college network contributed to a large extent to the democratization of education and that imposing tuition fees would jeopardize access to higher education Quebec-wide.

Furthermore, there is no ambiguity as far as FNEEQ is concerned: "... while the needs of graduates with a DCS [Diploma of College Studies] continue to grow, imposing tuition fees would send a strange message that education is a luxury, rather than a fundamental right. The user-pay principle has no place in education," Thibodeau concluded.

The National Teachers Federation of Quebec (FNEEQ-CSN) is the union organization most representative of higher education in Quebec. Its 27,000 members work in cégeps, universities and private institutions. Information: France Désaulniers, Communications Councillor, FNEEQ-CSN, (514) 219-2947

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Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Students
Mobilize Against New Tuition Fees

The General Students Association of Jonquière Cégep (ACEECJ) had a strong response to the position adopted by the Liberal General Council regarding the introduction of new college tuition fees. The resolution was adopted by a very weak majority, clearly without any real consideration.

At a press conference organized at Jonquière cégep attended by the General Students Association of  Chicoutimi Cégep (AGEECC) and the Student Association of Alma College (AECA), AGEECJ President Mathieu Morin described the proposal as an insult to students. "I hardly see how the proposal meets the mark regarding dropping out of school or persisting in one's studies. The majority of jobs to be filled between now and 2012 will be in the technical and professional sectors. Students are expected to pursue their studies, but because of new fees, access to post-secondary education is further curtailed!"

Such fees, no matter how modest, most certainly limit access to post-secondary education. "The purpose of college education is not to form an elite!," added Morin, who promises very intensive mobilization over the course of the week. That same consideration was endorsed by the student associations present at the press conference. In their opinion, the Liberals are completely disconnected from the college reality.

AECA President Anne-Sophie Doré-Coulombe explained the conundrum facing students: "Students will have two choices: either to further indebt themselves or work longer hours, which will further compromise the qualify of their learning." Dominique Théberge, President of the AGEECC, concurred. "There's no way that students will be able to offset these new fees through the present student financial assistance regime!"

As for the increase in hydroelectricity fees, Mathieu Morin denounced the claim made by Minister Clément Gignac that the increase will mainly affect the most wealthy. "Far from it, in the majority of cases students have to cope with badly insulated dwellings, which inflates their electricity bill. Furthermore, the Liberals rejected the proposal aimed at lowering the threshold to qualify for the low electricity consumption rate which would have offset the hike!" Morin concluded.

Finally, the three associations demanded that the minister commit to not imposing any further hardships on students, otherwise pressure tactics will be deployed.

AGEECJ represents students at the Cégep de Jonquière. With over 3,000 members, it is affiliated to the Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec (FECQ). Information: Simon Harvey, Vice-President-External Affairs, cell: (418) 690-5717

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Imposition of College Tuition Fees:
Montérégie Students in Shock

Montérégie student associations took their stand this afternoon in Longueuil, following the adoption of a resolution at the Quebec Liberal Party's General Council meeting aimed at imposing college tuition fees. That new position is of great concern to student associations, who worry such a measure will reduce access to post-secondary studies.

"The creation of cégeps was particularly geared towards ensuring financial access to higher studies, which is why for over 40 years cégeps have been free of charge," noted Edenilson Castro of the National Aerotechnical School's Student Life Council (CVE-ENA). It should also be pointed out that the present unfreezing of university tuition fees will end up preventing between 6,000 to 13,000 students from going to university. "Of the 700,000 jobs to be created between now and 2012, 21,000 will require a more specialized diploma. Now is not the time to further reduce access to higher education!" stated Léo Bureau-Blouin, of the Student Association of Saint-Hyacinthe Cégep (RÉÉCSH).

"Loans and bursaries still do not meet the real needs of students today, and now it's about imposing tuition fees on cégeps. This is totally irresponsible on the government's part!," stated an indignant Marie-Ève Bujold of the Student Association of Edouard-Montpetit Cégep (AGECEM). The student associations present pointed to the claim of the Quebec Student Financial Assistance Program, that a two parent family with two children, with an annual gross income of $30,000 is able to provide for their children's studies, an erroneous calculation which reduces program access. "College students are already working hard enough as it is to cover their needs, as they often have no access to the loans and bursaries regime," stressed Véronique Proulx of the Student Association of Sorel-Tracy Cégep (AGEECST).

"The decision of the Liberals is a real stab in the back for our members as such measures will mean the end of college studies for many. The decision is unacceptable. Mr. Charest had better explain himself very quickly," concluded the four representatives.

Information: Alexandre St-Onge-Perron, Vice-President - External Affairs. AGECEM, cell: (438)888-2980; Étienne Béland, Director-External Affairs, RÉÉCSH, cell: (514)996-8114

(All statements translated from the French originals by TML Daily.)

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