Peace, Love (and Free Tuition)

"We probably solved the social problem -- the student crisis. But we definitely didn't solve the university problem. I'm concerned about our capacity to still be a good university system, to still give diplomas of quality compared to other jurisdictions."
Guy Breton, rector, Universite de Montreal

Mr. Breton still laments the success of the coalition of trade unions and student federations who succeeded in their determination to derail the previous Liberal government of Quebec which would have seen students contribute more to their heavily-subsidized education. The Liberals' planned tuition rise of $254 a year would still have left Quebec university and college students paying far less for tuition than any other province in Canada.

But this plan was hugely offensive to the student federations, an insult to their democratic rights. And they campaigned to uphold their 'democratic rights' against a government that sought to undemocratically oppress them. They certainly had the sympathy and support of the Parti Quebecois last fall, when they were out on the streets causing havoc. And as soon as Pauline Marois and the PQ were elected they cancelled the Liberal student tuition increase.

And were feted enthusiastically by those students and their federations who had campaigned for victory in their battle against the increase. Premier Marois let loose some talk of how just it would be that tuition be free of charge to students and that pleased them even more. And then she and her party took charge of the treasury. They saw the cupboard was bare and cut back on government funding of universities.

And there were the once-proud universities, cash-straitened by government and facing the reality of no student tuition increase. Quebec universities were facing the danger of losing under-funded programs. Even their famed medical schools had trouble maintaining their accreditation. So the PQ came up with a modest proposal of increasing tuition to match the cost of living. Instead of the Liberals' $254 yearly increase, they proposed $70.

Which transformed them instantly from a democratic government to an oppressive regime. Sending thousands of protesting students out onto the streets of Montreal on angry marches to once again disrupt traffic and infuse a little excitement into the winter scene, tossing ice-crusted snowballs at police and their mounts as a "first show of force", with more to come.