MONTREAL—Out-of-province money is rolling in for Quebec student activists amid warnings their protest movement could persist into the summer.
Trade unions based outside Quebec have already confirmed sending more than $36,000 into the bank accounts of the province’s largest student federations.
Union leaders in the rest of Canada say they’re now asking their memberships to vote on new donations for the student groups.
Several union delegations are heading to Montreal for a large protest today, while sister events are being organized in different cities inside and outside Canada.
The executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers says his union could approve a financial contribution for the students in the next day or two.
James Turk says there’s added urgency to help out after the Quebec government adopted an emergency law last week that sets some restrictions on protests.
Turk says his association could also help support student court challenges to Bill 78 — which he calls “repressive” and “worrisome.”
The law requires organizers to give police eight hours’ notice of when and where the protest will happen — and imposes fines for offenders.
After taking a beating over four days, from people accusing it of trampling democratic rights, the Quebec government has begun a counter-offensive in support of its law. Public Security Minister Robert Dutil has read from a list of cities with equally tough, or tougher, rules for organizing protests.
Dutil listed Geneva, Toronto, New York, Los Angeles and Spain as jurisdictions that require far more than eight hours’ notice — up to 40 days, in the case of L.A. — in order to hold a protest.
“Other societies with rights and freedoms to protect have found it reasonable to impose certain constraints—first of all to protect protesters, and also to protect the public,” Dutil said.
Students have been holding regular protests since February to denounce the provincial government’s plan to increase tuition fees. Hundreds of protesters were arrested over the weekend after clashes with riot police.
Canada News: Union cash flowing into Quebec to fund student protests - thestar.com
Trade unions based outside Quebec have already confirmed sending more than $36,000 into the bank accounts of the province’s largest student federations.
Union leaders in the rest of Canada say they’re now asking their memberships to vote on new donations for the student groups.
Several union delegations are heading to Montreal for a large protest today, while sister events are being organized in different cities inside and outside Canada.
The executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers says his union could approve a financial contribution for the students in the next day or two.
James Turk says there’s added urgency to help out after the Quebec government adopted an emergency law last week that sets some restrictions on protests.
Turk says his association could also help support student court challenges to Bill 78 — which he calls “repressive” and “worrisome.”
The law requires organizers to give police eight hours’ notice of when and where the protest will happen — and imposes fines for offenders.
After taking a beating over four days, from people accusing it of trampling democratic rights, the Quebec government has begun a counter-offensive in support of its law. Public Security Minister Robert Dutil has read from a list of cities with equally tough, or tougher, rules for organizing protests.
Dutil listed Geneva, Toronto, New York, Los Angeles and Spain as jurisdictions that require far more than eight hours’ notice — up to 40 days, in the case of L.A. — in order to hold a protest.
“Other societies with rights and freedoms to protect have found it reasonable to impose certain constraints—first of all to protect protesters, and also to protect the public,” Dutil said.
Students have been holding regular protests since February to denounce the provincial government’s plan to increase tuition fees. Hundreds of protesters were arrested over the weekend after clashes with riot police.
Canada News: Union cash flowing into Quebec to fund student protests - thestar.com
