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Unbelievable. Who do they think is going to believe contrived nonsense like that?
Here is the new CLASSE newspaper. You can find articles and information about tuition hikes, previous student strikes and other important issues.
That type of language was enough to get the Ontario and federal governments a free pass on the G8/G20 police state tactics. Where was the outcry over the anarchists they jailed for months, for the crime of organizing a protest? Manufacturing consent is a complicated process and just because you don't believe the lies they are proffering doesn't mean that a large number of your neighbors might not be sucked in. Just say Black Bloc and you get many jumping the shark to terrorist even on this board let alone in the MSM.
Gee, kropotkin, maybe you should have turned on The National. I wouldn't say they exactly got a free pass.
And I asked the question because I might expect accusations of Marxist or anti-capitalist from our federal government, and i might expect it to sell in places like Calgary or even Toronto. I am a little surprised to hear it from the Quebec government. And I don't mean it as a slight on the political culture there. I am honestly surprised that Charest would play those cards.
Is that the best they can do?
The meeting has begun between newly-named minister of education Michelle Courchesne and the representatives of (above, l to r) CLASSE, FEUQ, FECQ, and (not shown) TACEQ.
The buzz is that if no agreement is reached, the Liberal government will introduce some kind of special legislation. No one knows what it would look like or how it could be more binding than court injunctions.
If someone has heard more than I have, please speak up!
http://www.newswire.ca/fr/story/975291/a-l-aube-d-une-nouvelle-ronde-de-discussion-la-feuq-tient-a-faire-le-point-sur-les-derniers-evenements
google translate:
At the dawn of a new round of discussion, the FEUQ is to take stock of recent events
QUEBEC CITY, May 15, 2012 / PRNewswire-FirstCall / - First, the Quebec Federation of University Students (FEUQ) reacted positively to the possibility of open dialogue that involves the appointment of Michelle Courchesne as Minister of Education , Recreation and Sport, replacing Ms. Line Beauchamp, MP who resigned yesterday. Indeed, several times in the past, the FEUQ noted the constructive attitude of Madame Courchesne at the last bargaining blitz and she hopes to work on developing a crisis win-win. As she demonstrated in the past, the Federation is in solution, as the occasion of the meeting of May 5, 2012, and able to compromise: "The government was very aware of the fragility of the offer that we accept to submit to our members after 22 hours of negotiations. We had agreed to talk about student contribution instead of tuition, to make a bet where we are committed to finding savings in the poor management of universities. That students have never had water in their wine comes to renounce their work and to deny the legitimacy of their claims, "says Martine Desjardins, president of the FEUQ.
Moreover, the FEUQ adds that she never wanted the departure of Ms. Beauchamp, and had denoted a new openness on the part of the Minister at the meeting that preceded the telephone announcement of his resignation. "We are fighting for a society in which everyone can have access to university, regardless of socio-economic environment in which it arises. This calls for a freeze on tuition fees, not by the resignation of a minister, "says Desjardins.
FEUQ would also return to the words of Mrs. Beauchamp when he resigned as Minister of Education of the Liberal government of Jean Charest on the fact that students have refused a moratorium on rising tuition. "This is completely false, it is ourselves who had brought this option at the previous meeting. However, the Charest government refused from the beginning to consider a moratorium, a word that seems allergic to the Liberals, "says the president of the FEUQ.
In closing, the FEUQ wants the meeting to be held at 18 am in Quebec between the Minister Courchesne and representatives of student organizations to be successful and allow real discussion on the core problem: rising tuition fees. "While the resignation of Mrs. Little, members of the Charest government has made many statements bordering on laconic threat, some taking a" hard line "fuzzy and disturbing, we remain confident that we can address issues of funding, as everything will be on the table and we will not see a repeat of past meetings, "says Martine Desjardins.
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Politique/2012/05/15/002-marois-rencontre-etudiants-pm.shtml
google translate:
Jean Charest doit participer à la rencontre avec les étudiants, dit Pauline Marois
The Parti Quebecois and the Future Coalition (CAQ) both made their requests to the Charest government over the planned meeting tonight between the new Education Minister Michelle Courchesne, and student leaders. Both teams urging Premier Jean Charest to take part in the interview, but the guidelines they put forward are very different, however.
The Prime Minister must "engage in genuine negotiation where everyone will be win-win", launched during a press briefing the official opposition leader, Pauline Marois, wearing his red square. "This is the Prime Minister to find a way out of crisis," she argued.
Immediately appointed yesterday's successor Beauchamp summoned the leaders of the Coalition off the Association for Student Labor Solidarity (CLASS), the Quebec Federation of University Students (FEUQ), the Quebec Federation of College Students (FECQ) and the Table de concertation du Québec student (TaCEQ) in Quebec.
In the afternoon, Mrs. Courchesne would also meet with leaders of the Conference of Rectors and Principals of Quebec Universities (CREPUQ) and the Federation of CEGEPs.
"We need [Jean Charest] restores calm and social peace in Quebec and is a crisis. "- Pauline Marois
"There would not have such a conflict if I had been Prime Minister of Quebec," she said, criticizing "government failed" and a "steep increase". Deploring the tension that marks a conflict now in its 14th week, she called the situation "mess" and "disastrous situation" and it was imperative to "break the deadlock."....
quote:
Companies must do their part, said QS
Coporte the voice of QS, Amir Khadir, has also addressed the media to share their solutions, indicating that he must have a telephone conversation with Minister Courchesne before the end of the afternoon.
To improve the funding of universities, it is possible to "find smarter ways" that rising tuition fees proposed by the government, he argued.
"There is no dishonor in being attentive to his youth. "- Amir Khadir
"The government has the flexibility to suspend the increase in tuition by everyone to contribute its fair share. And everyone, it must include businesses, including banks and financial firms, "he argued. Referring to the net profits of 66 miliards they have completed between 2006 and 2010, he proposed to reinstate the tax credit for financial firms.
plus video
New Education Minister, More Protestsquote:
No Independent Inquiry Into Victoriaville: SQ
The Sécurité du Québec announced it will not have an independent inquiry into the event of the Victoriaville riots, despite numerous calls from the public and even political figures, including Quebec Solidaire MNA Amir Khadir.
Amnesty International called for an inquiry on May 14 citing the “number of people injured, the repeated use of irritant gas,” and the “high number of arrests and their circumstances.” The human rights organization cites the March 25th demonstration and the SQ intervention on May 4th
Power Corps Annual Shareholder Meeting Disturbed
Approximately 200 protesters gathered around 10 a.m. at the Intercontinental Hotel in Montreal on May 15th to disrupt Power Corporation of Canada’s annual shareholder meeting.
The first clashes happened after 30 minutes when protesters approached police officers blocking access to the hotel. Police used pepper-spray on the crowd before deploying riot police, mounted police, and police on bicycles to form three separate lines of defence against the advancing group.
The protesters soon left, marching to Jacques Cartier bridge. They momentarily blocked access to the Ville-Marie expressway before returning to the Intercontinental hotel.
Citing physical altercations between students and bystanders, the SPVM declared the demonstration illegal around 2pm.
Police in riot gear then dispersed the students.
At press time the SPVM confirmed 2 arrests had been made.
#Manifencours
Following the March 22nd demonstration where between 100,000 and 200,000 students marched through downtown Montreal, a new march is scheduled for May 22nd.
At press time more than 7,000 people indicated their attendance to the event.
As nightly student demonstration is now becoming a tradition, the 22nd consecutive march is scheduled to kick off at 8:30pm, Parc Emile Gamelin on May 15.
http://thelinknewspaper.ca/article/2996#.T7L3c2TY5N4.facebook
http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/dossiers/conflit-etudiant/201205/15/01-4525579-les-leaders-etudiants-plutot-satisfaits-des-discussions.php
google translation:
Student leaders rather satisfied with the discussions
Leaders of student organizations were rather satisfied with the tone of discussions at their meeting with the new Education Minister Michelle Courchesne, they leave a meeting that lasted just over an hour on Tuesday night in Quebec.
For her part, Ms. Courchesne did not comment and report on the state of affairs to the Cabinet and Premier Jean Charest on Wednesday.
The president of the Quebec Federation of College Students (FECQ), Leo Bureau-Blouin, spoke of a "relatively short meeting," during which Ms. Courchesne has "listened to what (associations) had to say."
He spoke of "consensus positions" of student organizations that will be reported to Cabinet.
The president of the Quebec Federation of University Students (FEUQ), Martine Desjardins, added to his side that the idea of a moratorium was back on the table. She added that the "channels remain open," and stated that the representatives would remain in Quebec City to follow everything.
Commenting to the media shortly after his two colleagues, the spokesman for the Coalition off the Association for Student Labor Solidarity (CLASS), Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, said at the outset that the CLASS emerged "relatively satisfied" with these discussions "actually quite cordial."
The spokesman added that "some channels" were "opportunities" by the new minister, citing "disagreements" and "misunderstandings" with (former minister) Beauchamp.
Mr. Nadeau-Dubois said he received assurances of being "contacted" by Mrs. Courchesne after the Cabinet meeting.
Coporte his voice, Jeanne Reynolds, said that Ms. Courchesne had recognized that injunctions for the resumption of classes were not the "solution to resolve" the conflict.
Furthermore, she stated that CLASS had been "reassured" about the threat of a special law to end the conflict.
All leaders have indicated that there had been no "formal bid" of the Minister.
Although it is late, the Charest government said in the day aside for now the possibility to cancel the session in CEGEPs paralyzed by the student boycott.
Within hours of meeting with leaders of the four student associations - FEUQ, FECQ, and TACEQ CLASS - Tuesday, Minister Michelle Courchesne said wanted to "save session" so that graduates can enter college in September .
As time passes and the boycott continues, the hypothesis of a cancellation of the session is increasingly raised in student circles. But "at this stage", this possibility is not included in the portfolios of government, stressed the Minister.
"I do not register in a scenario of a cancellation, I am part of a scenario where these sessions will be saved," she said during question period Tuesday in the National Assembly.
Before meeting with student leaders, Mrs. Courchesne was to meet with leaders of colleges as well as with university presidents to discuss a development schedule for completing the school year.
The government will then take the "necessary decisions", said Mrs. Courchesne, without giving further details.
Among the 21 persons arrested this morning at the Jacques-Cartier bridge was Yalda Machouf-Khadir, daughter of Québec Solidaire co-spokesperson Amir Khadir. I don't know whether she is still being detained.
The galling CBC coverage continues, decrying "violent" protests (sic) and offering the fact that 19 people were arrested as evidence for the former.
I was heartened to hear that parents and teachers stood between the students and the fascist riot police for a spell, and to hear the principal of the school castigate Charest et al. for putting her in a position where she had to call the police on her own students or put her employment in jeopardy.
One of Canada’s wealthiest and most politically connected families has come under attack as the force and rhetoric of Quebec’s student protests move from the streets into corporate shareholder meetings.
The Desmarais clan, which controls Power Corp., was the target Tuesday of angry demonstrators gathered in Old Montreal outside a hotel where the company’s annual general meeting was taking place.
A line of police in riot gear guarded the hotel’s main entrance while protesters chanted in French: “We must fight the thieves in ties” and “Your wealth is our poverty.”
Power Corp CEO Paul Desmarais Jr. (R) walks past police officers, on his way to the company's annual general meeting
UQAM (Université du Québec à Montréal), located in downtown Montréal, has been shut down for weeks. Some law faculty students obtained an injunction allowing them to return to class this morning.
At about 9:30 am, hundreds of demonstrators entered the Judith-Jasmin pavilion. Police were called. CLASSE announced via Twitter that the law classes had been cancelled. UQAM administration has denied this, saying they're still sorting out which classes will be able to resume. The demontrators left about 10:20 am to continue marching through downtown streets, heading west on de Maisonneuve.
A rally has also been called for 1 pm in front of Charest's Montréal office, at McGill College and Sherbrooke.
And there's lots of other activity surrounding the (mostly unsuccessful) attempts of various colleges to reopen for some classes.
I'm just waiting for bad news from Charest, after last night's supposedly productive meeting between Michelle Courchesne and student leaders, where all that happened was that they made proposals and brainstormed ideas and she smiled and took notes.
La Presse says Charest's special back-to-class legislation is already drafted and will be tabled this week. It will ban pickets that block entrance to classes anywhere (by contrast with the many injunctions to date, which are very specific to particular institutions, individuals, etc., and which don't deny the right of assembly). There will be fines for individual violators (hundreds of dollars) and for student associations (thousands) per "infraction".
Despite the incomprehensible upbeat impressions of the student reps last night, Michelle Courchesne has now spoken publicly, saying that the meeting confirmed that the students have hardened their stand, and that no compromise is possible. Big big surprise. She's reporting this to cabinet today, and that will pave the way for Charest's cavalry to ride to the rescue of the poor law students and others that just want to get on with their education, irrespective of the cost to others.
This will end badly, unless students and their allies work out a way to snatch a victory, even a small one, from the situation. Already, the massive defiance and mobilization of the past months is a historic accomplishment that will mark this generation and the progressive movement here as a whole. It's vital that it should not go down in history, however, as: "What's the point, we fought, but we lost." I don't know how this will all play out, but obviously we need broader and more active alliances, otherwise even the most militant and self-sacrificing sections of the movement can be taken on by the state one at a time.
but even Gerry Mcneilly's nuanced report, now being announced in Toronto on CP24 paints another ugly picture of straight on fascist jackboot policing - simultaneous to the ongoing repetition of this phenomenon in Quebec. Clearly this isn't going to go away and it is high time for any and all who 'get it' to get off their asses and take action. En route to the paltry NAKBA & Prisoners' protest yesterday I noticed more than a few posters announcing student leaders coming to speak in Toronto. Hope this recieves all the attention it deserves and thanks to those transmitting this news. The complete G20 report is here: this is drift but related
http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120516/120516_g20_report/...
By victory, I'm assuming you mean some sort of negotiated settlement in terms of tuition or some related item? Do you have a suspicion of what we'll see or some idea as to what you'd like to see the students angle for? Because you're right: I think the demonstration is already a "victory" and I wonder what kind of contract "victory" could be used as a symbol of the former's success other than total or near-total capitualtion by the government, which appears unlikely. Aren't the students better off using the movement itself as its symbol, noting that (if Charest succeeds in crushing this movement with draconian policies and force) this battle is suspended, but la lutte continue?
The Globe's coverage of this morning's incident at UQAM follows:
Protesters stormed into a university, many of them with their faces covered by masks, and worked through the hallways Wednesday on the hunt for classes to disrupt.
The protesters were enforcing their declared strikes, and resented the fact that some students have used legal injunctions to return to school.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/protesters-storm-mo...
Sorry to piss on the birthday cake, but I think this is at a point where those resisting the tuition hikes need to consider their steps very carefully.
If a few people want to attend class, is it really worth it to try and prevent them from doing so, and having that act overshadow the very real grievance these student groups are fighting for?
Call me crass if you will, but there is a certain point to building bridges and keeping public opinion on your side by reminding them of connections between struggles. Flouting injunctions, and getting in the way of students who don't support the strike is only going to muddy the waters. I can remember one case in which those who elected to attend classes, or do so off-campus, were ignored as irrelevant to the real issue.
The students demonstrating, and those who sympathize but for one reason or another aren't part of the demos, have already had an invaluable education in activism and in standing up to the power of the state. They've been radicalized. This is what Charest and the corporatists must fear. Likewise, the Occupy protests around the globe - young people, the next generation, are standing up to the 1% and the corporized hierarchy. And, as the Harper government becomes even more extreme, I would expect to see more protests and street demonstrations - perhaps even civil disobedience - on a massive scale, and especially against the brutal and draconian legislation being brought forward by the fascists in power.
@ Boom Boom
Exactly. I think it is for each person to decide where to stand in this situation. If some poor kid is in hock up to the eyeballs and simply cannot afford to blow the school year, or simply does not support it, it is not up to you or me or anyone to question that, and we gain nothing by wrecking that decision.
Oh gee, thanks. The hundreds of arrests and injuries and fines and demonization by the meda and potential loss of their sessions and summer jobs have just left them cavalierly doing whatever the fuck they please, with not a single thought to the consequences.
Québec has had anti-scab legislation since 1977. That's why the fascist government keeps calling this a "boycott" - because in this province (as opposed to wherever you live), it's unlawful, once a legal strike has been called by majority vote, for the employer to allow members of the bargaining unit or "replacement" workers in. That's such a strong culture and tradition that you'll forgive students, I'm sure, for thinking that when their accredited associations decide, by majority vote, to go on strike, that everyone follows the majority. They do exactly the same when the majority votes to end the strike, as has happened in numerous institutions and departments. You'll forgive them for being confused and thinking that they have the same democratic rights and obligations as workers.
"Crass" didn't come to mind.
Well you are more familiar with it than me, Unionist, but do trade union rules apply to students? Seems to me they got an injunction.
I'm not trying to undercut the issue; I am questioning whether this is a distraction that will undercut the central issue they are fighting for.
And actually, during the general strike in the early 80s in BC it was a job action that shut down Simon Fraser, with a picket line, and even so, there was no prevention of those who wanted to cross or reschedule classes off-campus, even though many of us stayed away.
To be clear, I question whether this is a wise use of resources in a charged struggle like this.
You may disagree, and if so I welcome your opinion. But it is a fair question.
I can't substitute my thinking for theirs, but unfortunately I have a lot of experience in similar situations (at the smaller scale of a workplace or industrial sector), and ideas about salvaging the situation honourably, and being better able to fight another day, keep flooding in.
For example, it's entirely true that the government made a bunch of concessions not directly touching on the main demand of tuition freeze. All that was done as a direct result of the students' struggle, and reflected certain demands that have been outstanding for a long time - especially the increased flexibility for bursaries based on family income. If this had been combined with a clear moratorium on fee hikes until after the next winter semester - with the establishment of a credible commission to inquire into university financing and spending - then it could have served as a pause in the struggle, a tactical victory for the students, and no big "capitulation" on the government's part. But stupidity by Charest and Beauchamp, and walking into traps on the students' reps' part, killed that possibility IMHO. So did all the bullshit about "you must renounce violence", with CLASSE's response of, "well we respect diversity of tactics" (NOTE to self: someone should tear up that hymn book one of these days).
I still think it could work. I think the "white flag" movement, although very new and still limited, could be the pretext. They're calling for a moratorium on fee hikes, a return to class, and the moratorium continues for some undefined period while talks continue. Already CAQ has said: "The white flag and the red flag are the same." Legault is right, of course, although some babblers legitimately challenged me when I first promoted it here. But when you look at it, it's simple. The student strike is in response to the government's scheduled fee hikes. If the fee hikes are postponed - the strike and other actions can be also. It would be different if the immediate aim of the movement were free tuition. In the event, it's a strike against an enforced concession. Take away the concession, and there's no reason to keep striking, for now.
Accomplishing this - and getting students to see it in the proper light and support it - requires not only self-sacrifice and militancy and unflagging combative spirit - it also requires some skill and experience. I dearly wish this kind of assistance could be provided by allies. But so far, the allies have been giving money and resources and bodies, which is all good, but it has its limits.
And I wish other Québec babblers could join in this discussion as to possible outcomes. I'm just an immigrant, after all.
The Quebec Labour Code - and its anti-scab provisions at section 109.1 - only applies to "employees" (a person who works for an employer and for remuneration). Ironically, apparently the Quebec government was looking at strengthening the Code's anti-scab provisions just last week.
Presumably the student unions would have raised the Code and its anti-scab provisions during the thirty or more injunction applications but the courts have not agreed with them.
That would be my question, since I presume most workers don't pay to go to work.
And regarding sacrifice as an arguing point, there are plenty of people who walked straight into the mouth of a cannon, but that did not make their actions wise or effective.
Honestly, if there is some good reason why they are doing this, I am all ears, since I am not there, and do not know how things are on the ground.
But it seems to me to be seen to be forcing people who want to go do class to stay away is not something that is going to draw any support.
You are now bringing me to tears. The Solidarity movement in BC was told that it was not the wisest use of resources to continue a general strike. Don't worry they will get defeated at the polls. That sellout by union leaders like Union Jack Munroe marked the beginning of the long, long road backward.
The best thing for the status quo is always to diffuse struggles with "compromise" that amounts to delaying decisions until the movement moment passes. It is the best possible outcome for the Charest police state.
The question for me is whether or not the status quo should be defended by dissipating the immense energy for change being created by these students.
Compromise?
Seems to me the issue is preventing tuition hikes. Please explain to me how preventing students who for whatever reason do not support the closure of classes is in any way compromise. Because frankly, I don't think it helps the cause one bit.
We had the choice to stay away during the general strike, and I did so, but if someone presumed to tell me that it was my duty to prevent other people from attending class against their will, I would have told them to fuck off. That was not why I was there.
Again, things may be different this time around in Quebec. If so, I am all ears.