Police arrest dozens in Montreal - Gayo Lues

Police arrested 25 protesters in Montreal late Saturday as the protesters were holding a massive rally in the city.

Around 500 people had taken to streets in Montreal, protesting against the government’s plans to raise university fees. Soon afterward, the police fired tear gas at the crowds to disperse them.

Students have been holding almost daily demonstrations since February in an attempt to show their outrage at the proposed tuition fee rises.

Student unions have asked for a tuition freeze but the government has ruled it out and passed a law to limit demonstrations across the province.

The emergency Bill 78, which was passed last month to restrict student demonstrations, has added fuel to the fire. Under the bill, for any demonstration of 50 or more people, police should be informed eight hours in advance and told of the route of the demonstration.

The students have been urging the provincial government to suspend the law immediately and freeze the tuition hikes.

Under the provisional agreement, university fees would increase by CAD 1,780 over seven years or about CAD 254 a year, bringing the total to CAD 4,000 per year. The plan is scheduled to be effective from the 2012-13 until the 2016-2017 academic years.

MSH/JR/HJL