Our Not-So-Friendly Northern Neighbor
Canada used to seem a progressive and just
neighbor, but the picture today looks less rosy. One of its provinces
has gone rogue, trampling basic democratic rights in an effort to end
student protests against the Quebec provincial government’s plan to
raise tuition fees by 75 percent.
On May 18, Quebec’s legislative assembly, under the authority of the
provincial premier, Jean Charest, passed a draconian law in a move to
break the 15-week-long student strike. Bill 78,
adopted last week, is an attack on Quebecers’ freedom of speech,
association and assembly. Mr. Charest has refused to use the traditional
means of mediation in a representative democracy, leading to even more
polarization. His administration, one of the most right-wing governments
Quebec has had in 40 years, now wants to shut down opposition.
The bill threatens to impose steep fines of 25,000 to 125,000 Canadian
dollars against student associations and unions — which derive their
financing from tuition fees — in a direct move to break the movement.
For example, student associations will be found guilty if they do not
stop their members from protesting within university and college
grounds.
READ MORE HERE...
518 arrested as Montreal police kettle demonstrators
A peaceful evening march that began with people festively banging pots
and pans in support of protesting students ended in the early morning
hours with police using the controversial “kettling” tactic on a crowd
of demonstrators and arresting 518 people.
Montreal wasn’t the only city to have roundups Wednesday night. There
were also mass arrests at student protests in Quebec City and
Sherbrooke.
Kettling is a tactic widely used in Europe where riot cops surround
demonstrators and limit or cut off their exits. It has been widely
criticized because it often results in the scooping up of innocent
bystanders as well as rowdies. A recent report by Ontario’s police
watchdog blasted Toronto police for their use of kettling during the G20
summit two years ago, saying they violated civil rights, detained
people illegally and used excessive force.
READ MORE HERE...
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/518-arrested-as-montreal-police-kettle-demonstrators/article2442043/
ALSO WORTH CHECKING OUT...
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