Thousands gather in Montreal for anti-austerity protest

[OBEY 57,109]

Thousands of people have joined a student-led protest against austerity measures in downtown Montreal, putting the government and police on high alert.

Organizations representing some 100,000 Quebec students have voted in favour of boycotting classes to protest the provincial government’s spending cuts. Groups representing teachers, professors and some unions were expected to join the demonstration in Montreal’s Victoria Square.

Association pour une solidarite syndicale etudiante, or ASSE, organized the protest, which began at 1 p.m.

Protest organizers say they want to send a strong message to the Liberal government that they will not accept what they call an “obsession” with reaching a balanced budget at the expense of Quebecers, CTV Montreal’s Maya Johnson reported.

Critics say the austerity measures have affected the quality of public services in Quebec, but the government insists the cutbacks are necessary to ensure prosperity in the future.

The government has said that protesters have a right to assemble, as long as they remain peaceful. Premier Philippe Couillard said he hopes that students who take to the streets will try to see the bigger picture.

“What we are doing today is, by taking back control of our public finances, allowing Quebec to determine its destiny and its choices in the future,” Couillard told reporters Thursday.  “And they will be the ones leading Quebec tomorrow.”

Last month, protester Naomie Tremblay-Trudeau said she was considering legal action against the police after she was shot in the face with part of a tear-gas canister at an anti-austerity demonstration.

The ASSE has also complained about other instances of what they call heavy-handed police tactics.

Theriault told reporters Thursday that people have the right to protest, but they also have “an obligation to respect the rules,” just as police officers do.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/thousands-gather-in-montreal-for-anti-austerity-protest-1.2309502

 

 

[Goosey 3,017]

These Quebecois students can be real irritating. Always protesting. Our education fees in all the other provinces are way higher, they have the lowest tuition, yet they're the ones taking to the streets? Bah... the French.

[Luc 4,776]

They have every right to be ignorant. As long as they don't form a majority (like in Greece). Cuts are necessary to bring back the government debt.

[Ladey Gagz 2,512]

Mess  the vote in my cegep was only 56% against it so my school ain't protesting  alot of people vvoted yes for a 5 day Easter break though  

[OBEY 57,109]

These Quebecois students can be real irritating. Always protesting. Our education fees in all the other provinces are way higher, they have the lowest tuition, yet they're the ones taking to the streets? Bah... the French.

​

The government is cutting in education services, health services, public services, family services and so on. A lot of people are loosing their jobs and so on. The students are NOT ONLY in the streets for the cost of the education, they are in the streets for EVERYONE.

[OBEY 57,109]

They have every right to be ignorant. As long as they don't form a majority (like in Greece). Cuts are necessary to bring back the government debt.

These cuts are making fall everything we took YEARS and YEARS to build and they are making loose thousand of jobs. Meanwhile, the government increases the salary of its deputies and members, sounds fair. 

I don't think they are being ignorant at all! (But maybe you don't know all the story in detail, which can be normal)

[OBEY 57,109]

Mess  the vote in my cegep was only 56% against it so my school ain't protesting  alot of people vvoted yes for a 5 day Easter break though http://gagadaily.com/uploads/default_sharon.gif 

​My cegep voted in favor since a lot of people lost their jobs in the cegep due to the government's cuts.

[Ladey Gagz 2,512]

​My cegep voted in favor since a lot of people lost their jobs in the cegep due to the government's cuts.

It's really funny though... In my school, nobody informs themselves and alot of them just vote for whether they want a day off or not and I find it pretty sad  

[Luc 4,776]

These cuts are making fall everything we took YEARS and YEARS to build and they are making loose thousand of jobs. Meanwhile, the government increases the salary of its deputies and members, sounds fair. 

I don't think they are being ignorant at all! (But maybe you don't know all the story in detail, which can be normal)

You could protest for cuts in other places (like rhe gocernmentl besides students, which are the mpst vulnerable part of the population financially.

I think that cuts are necessary unlrss you can somehow get big economic growth from the spending. Military, government, bureaucracy and the rich should be where they cut the most or raise taxes.

 

 

[Miker 5,683]

The money has to come from somewhere. The government employees are among the highest paid. There is no discrimination on cutting back, and all the provinces are going through the same cutback pressures. The population is aging and there will be more people collecting pensions and old age security payouts with less manufacturing and industrial jobs. If anything the economic growth is stagnant. Quebec always think they deserve priority treatment over the rest of Canada.   

[OBEY 57,109]

You could protest for cuts in other places (like rhe gocernmentl besides students, which are the mpst vulnerable part of the population financially.

I think that cuts are necessary unlrss you can somehow get big economic growth from the spending. Military, government, bureaucracy and the rich should be where they cut the most or raise taxes.

 

 

​There's been other manifestations at a lot of places like in front of the government buildings and so on, it's just that i shared this one cause it was a big one

What they are doing right now is not the best solution, in my opinion with all their cuts it's like they want to destroy the medium class only to have the rich and the poor 

[OBEY 57,109]

The money has to come from somewhere. The government employees are among the highest paid. There is no discrimination on cutting back, and all the provinces are going through the same cutback pressures. The population is aging and there will be more people collecting pensions and old age security payouts with less manufacturing and industrial jobs. If anything the economic growth is stagnant. Quebec always think they deserve priority treatment over the rest of Canada.   

​Why is this government cutting everywhere, but rising the salaries of its deputees? Like come on  

In my opinion, Health and Education are THE MOST IMPORTANT things, yet they're the institutions suffering the most from these cuts..

[Miker 5,683]

​Why is this government cutting everywhere, but rising the salaries of its deputees? Like come on  

In my opinion, Health and Education are THE MOST IMPORTANT things, yet they're the institutions suffering the most from these cuts..

​I don't disagree with you. The cutting is necessary and the salaries and benefits of the government personnel needs to be reduced, not increased. I do have an issue that suggests that these cuts are affecting only Quebec rather than the big picture, all of Canada.

 

"Critics say the austerity measures have affected the quality of public services in Quebec, but the government insists the cutbacks are necessary to ensure prosperity in the future."