The Rule of Law

Depends.  On whether university students in Quebec determine in their aggregate that court injunctions should apply to their noble cause.  On whether a newly instituted law, Bill 78, is considered a "declaration of war". 

Militantly and systematically blocking the two-thirds of Quebec university students who have no wish to protest the implementation of increased tuition fees over a seven-year-period from attending their paid-for classes, and interrupting rush-hour traffic at busy city intersections is simply democracy in action.

So it really does depend on perspective, on whose rule of law one wishes to discuss.  The provincial government's perspective on legality and the rule of law is warped in any event, because the government has failed to take into account the tender sensibilities of students and their unions who take offense at the suggestion they should pay a more representative portion of what it costs to educate them.

The amended bill requiring the organizer of a public demonstration involving 50 or more people to advise police eight hours in advance of where the location, time, duration and route will take place is horrendously offensive to the rights of university students in Quebec.  That the province wishes to "maintain peace, order and public security" is their problem, not the students'.

In attempting to accommodate students by suspending courses until August with the additional delay of the fall term to enable students who have been busy protesting to catch up on their education is simply infuriating and not to be tolerated.  Quebec's unions certainly agree.  As does the Parti Quebecois which bemoans the government's actions against the province's entitled "youth".

Riot police on campus?  Who ever heard of such an insult?  On the other hand, masked protesters threatening other students, naming them 'scabs', and interrupting classes merit such insults.  Instructors at some of the universities and CEGEPs have been actively encouraging the rampaging students.  Even when police enter at the school's request to enforce an injunction, they are not welcome by the protest-supporting staff.

The student conflict, according to Quebec Superior Court chief Justice Francois Rolland "has assumed catastrophic proportions and is causing students irreparable harm that imperils their professional future".  The CEGEP in Ste-Therese, northwest of Montreal was ordered by the judge to use "all appropriate, necessary and reasonable means, including recourse to police forces."

Teachers, however, claimed they were prepared to respect court orders "as long as our physical integrity, our physical and psychological health, are not affected by those injunctions".  Add that to the fact that the CEGEP teachers' union has made it evident it is right behind the tuition protest and has been since its inception.  A human chain comprised of the profs contre la hausse (teachers against the [tuition] increase) greeted the riot police on arrival.

Along with the student unions, in fact, the president of the union representing teachers at 46 of the province's 59 CEGEPs, including Lionel-Groulx and Maisonneuve, stated support of the student battle, and is in favour of a complete elimination of any and all university tuition fees.  And where will the province obtain the funding for such an enterprise?

Why, where else but through those reliable transfer payments from the wealthy provinces of the country where university students must pay their fair share of tuition costs, costs to them which are far greater than what the Quebec university students will eventually pay seven years into the future with the new tuition hikes.

This is Quebec society facing off against its pampered elite post-secondary demographic, enraged that their dictates are insufficiently respected by the duly elected government and its representatives.  So, continued protests with larger turn-outs and and increased violence will continue to be the menu of choice.  Protesting students being arrested likely enhances their sense of purpose.

"If you do something criminal, it will not be tolerated any more", claimed St. Ian Lafreniere of the Montreal police.  So, they've been placed on notice.