The sound of banging pots and pans is filling the air from coast to coast.
Though thousands of kilometres away, Victorians will B次元官网网址渃asserole marchB次元官网网址� in unison with striking Quebec university students and their supporters across the country during a block party in Centennial Square Saturday (June 9).
It will be the second show of solidarity for the eastern ralliers since May 30, when locals, many with pots and pans in hand, marched through downtown Victoria.
More than 155,000 post-secondary students, nearly one-third of the student population in Quebec, have yet to return to class amid escalating tension with government, sparked by the Quebec LiberalsB次元官网网址� proposed 75-per-cent tuition increase over the next five years.
Students in B.C. pay nearly double the average post-secondary tuition fees compared to Quebec students B次元官网网址� $4,852 versus $2,519 annually, according to Statistics Canada. Despite the disparity, student groups in Victoria have thrown their full support behind the Quebec student resistance.
B次元官网网址淭he post-secondary system in Quebec really serves as a model for the rest of Canada; itB次元官网网址檚 a system we can look to,B次元官网网址� said Lucia Orser, director of external relations for the University of Victoria StudentsB次元官网网址� Society. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why we see students mobilizing across Canada B次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檙e defending the most accessible post-secondary education in North America.B次元官网网址�
Quebec students fear their post-secondary education system might turn into something similar to the current B.C. system, which saw tuition freezes lifted in 2002, Orser added.
B次元官网网址淭he culture in Quebec is so different and very distinct,B次元官网网址� said Madeline Keller-MacLeod, external executive for the Camosun College Student Society. B次元官网网址淪tudents in B.C. donB次元官网网址檛 remember a time when tuition wasnB次元官网网址檛 extremely expensive.B次元官网网址�
Last Monday (May 28), both the UVic and Camosun student societies passed motions of support for Quebec students. The result: Solidarit茅! a block party in Centennial Square.
The event begins with a pots-and-pans-banging casserole march at 5 p.m. (8 p.m. EST), the same time protesters will take to the streets in Quebec, before leading a party into the square with live music and guest presentations planned.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a growing movement in support of Quebec, but also to demand affordable education for all,B次元官网网址� said Orser, who hopes the Quebec protests may lead to more awareness of post-secondary cuts in B.C.
Government watchdog, the Canadian TaxpayersB次元官网网址� Federation, strongly opposes the student movement based on the B次元官网网址減erpetuation of QuebecB次元官网网址檚 cycle of entitlementB次元官网网址� and the fact that B.C. taxpayers continue to make equalization payments to Quebec, said Jordan Bateman, B.C. representative for the federation.
B次元官网网址淭here have been so many government waste stories coming out of Quebec in the years that show they might not treat tax dollars as seriously as the rest of Canada,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淚t comes down to the basic premise that if something is free, or youB次元官网网址檙e not paying for it, you donB次元官网网址檛 value it in the same way as if you were putting your own dollar on the line. ItB次元官网网址檚 important that students pay a part of their tuition so that they understand thereB次元官网网址檚 value to what theyB次元官网网址檙e getting.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 a debate Keller-MacLeod and Orser are ready to wage with the public during Solidarit茅!
The party will also be an opportunity to back the Quebec protesters financially, as the groups will be gathering funds to pay for lawyers for Quebec students who are facing criminal charges as a result of their protesting.
B次元官网网址淭his should be worrisome for anyone in Canada,B次元官网网址� Keller-MacLeod said. B次元官网网址淎ll students in Canada should be inspired by Quebec students. TheyB次元官网网址檝e been extremely democratic in how theyB次元官网网址檝e carried out their strike and they believe in what they want and that itB次元官网网址檚 worth fighting for. IB次元官网网址檇 like to see that have an effect on students in B.C.B次元官网网址�
nnorth@saanichnews.com
