Quebec students to continue fight against tuition hike
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
CBC News
Students in Quebec say they’ll continue to protest tuition fee increases despite what they call unprecedented police repression.
Pepper spray and Taser guns won’t stop students from fighting the province’s $50-a-semester tuition fee hike, said the association representing college and university students (ASSE), which is spearheading widespread strikes this week.
More than 100 students who barricaded themselves inside post-secondary institution CEGEP Vieux-Montréal on Tuesday night to protest tuition hikes were arrested despite what ASSE said was a peaceful action.
Students built a towering barricade in front of the Ontario Street college with chairs, plywood, vending machines and a toilet, but refused to leave the premises until police arrived.
ASSE spokesman Hubert Gendron-Blais said police called to the scene used cayenne pepper spray and Taser guns to break up the demonstration, even though students were not acting violently.
Officers arrested 102 students, who were booked on charges, including public mischief, assault and battery, and armed assault, before being released.
No one was injured during the overnight protest, but police said the CEGEP property was damaged.
CEGEPs and university students are planning widespread protests across the province this week to protest a tuition fee increase.
Students in Montreal, Quebec City and Sherbrooke plan to take part in a three-day strike.
Education Minister Michelle Courchesne said the $50-a-semester tuition increase is non-negotiable.
On Wednesday, she called it a very reasonable increase, adding the government topped up student financial aid programs to offset the rise in tuition.
Students should be in class, not on strike, Courchesne said.
On Monday, police was called twice to the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM) to break up strikers who barricaded themselves inside the school around 11:30 p.m.
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