Canadian students protest tuition hikes - Gayo Lues

During the Wednesday march, demonstrators, dressed in black and their faces hidden by scarves, tore down signs of the Liberal Party to express their anger at the authorities who failed to listen to their demands.

The protesters vowed to elect a new government when they will go to the polls on September 4.

“The people will vote to elect a new government and that new government will feel pressure from the students,” said Martin Godon, a professor of philosophy at CEGEP college, known officially in English as General and Vocational College.

Godon also described himself as one of several “teachers against hikes.”

Students “have learned a lot about democracy, civics and engagement, and that’s worth all the diplomas they could receive,” he stated, expressing hope that the lessons “will impact youth voters” for the coming vote.

Eliane Laberge and Martine Desjardins, the respective presidents of two student unions, the Quebec Federation of College Students (FECQ) and the Quebec Federation of University Students (FEUQ), condemned the decision by the administration of Jean Charest, the premier of Quebec, to increase tuition fees.

Students have been protesting across Canada’s eastern province of Quebec since February in a bid to add up pressure on the province’s government to drop a plan to increase tuition fees. Some of the rallies have turned violent, with scores of students detained during clashes with police.

YH/HSN/MA