Canada's Maple Spring

Student protests in Quebec grow to nationwide movement.

Clanging pots and pans are sounding across the streets of Montreal as hundreds of thousands of Quebecers take part in what is being termed the "Maple Spring" - Canada's largest and longest protests ever. It all started three months ago when the provincial government announced an 75 percent increase on university tuitions.

But after continued protests, the government passed an emergency law known as Bill 78 in an attempt to crack down on protests. Since the implementation of the bill over 1000 people have been arrested and more than 10 injured.

In this episode of The Stream we speak with Tim McSorley (@timmcsorley), a staff editor at Media Co-op, Yanick Gregoire (@Yanick_Gregoire), vice president of Quebec University Student federation and Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois (@GNadeauDubois), a spokesman for the student group CLASSE.

So what are the goals of the Maple Spring and is it challenging the Canadian political establishment? Send us your thoughts and comments on Facebook or Twitter using hashtag #AJStream.

View the story "Canada's Maple Spring" on StorifyCanada's Maple SpringStudent protests in Quebec grow to nationwide movement.Storified by The Stream · Thu, Jun 07 2012 11:29:07The protests started in February, after Quebec premiere Jean Charest's government put forward plans to raise tuition fees by almost 75 percent from their current amount of $2,168 to $3,793 by 2017. Tax dollars already pay for a majority of social services, with tuition fees supplementing them. Students say the tuition hikes are unfair and hurt the middle class. In response, students went on strike, attracting others who are upset with austerity. Adopting the red square as their symbol, the protesters have grown to become a massive movement in the province.
Generation WiseBis FilmsGabriel Nadeau-Dubios, the spokesperson for CLASSE (la Coalition large de l'Associationpour une solidarite syndicale), the largest student coalition in Quebec, gave this speech, made into a typography by Tim Powell, explaining why the strikes were going on and calling on people across Quebec to join protests.Quebec Student Strike - Gabriel Nadeau-DuboistimmmmpowellIn the middle of May, Quebec's government passed Bill 78, designed to stop protests from continuing. It bars people from gathering near educational buildings, or in general without police approval. However, protesters call the bill unconstitutional, and have filed a legal challenge while challenging it directly by continuing to rally. A number of lawyers and magistrates also joined protests against it.
RT @OlivierHuard: Wow wow wow! #loi78 #juristes cc @VeroRobert @luclefebvre http://pic.twitter.com/0JKvw0SrVéronique RobertRT @57UN: You know when Montreal Bill 78 truly sucks? When even the lawyers hit the streets against it. #loi78 #ggi #manifencours http:/ ...Revolt & Resist !!!In response to Bill 78, protesters organized the biggest marches of the movement on May 22. Hundreds of thousands took part, with estimates ranging from 175,000-300,000. This video shows just how big the protest was, with strikers filling a street for blocks.
Manifestation Montreal mai 22 2012 - Demonstrations Montreal may 22 2012walidjreidiniIn this video, protesters shout "Who's streets? Our streets!" a slogan popular with the Occupy Wall Street protests. They also denounce the provisions of Bill 78, saying that they will ignore it. May 22's protest was also the largest such demonstration in Canadian history.
Montreal, QC - Manifestation de 22 mai au Plateau / May 22 Protest in the Plateaue2mwpgOne tactic protesters have adopted is the Casseroles style protest. Taking their cue from 1970s marches in Chile, strikers rally through Quebec, banging pots and pans as they move through Montreal.
Casseroles - Montréal, 24 Mai 2012Jeremie BattagliaThe government of Quebec has mostly opposed the protesters, but one member of the National Assembly, Amir Khadir joined the movement. Khadir, who regularly takes part in the protests, was arrested earlier this week. He was released soon afterward.
RT @AkliAit: Amir Khadir , mains attachées dans le dos http://twitpic.com/9t92lrOrg9Translation: Amir Khadir, hands tied behind his back.
The protesters and the government were in talks to try to resolve the dispute and end the strikes, but talks fell through on June 1 after Charest's government felt they were going nowhere. Protesters then took to the streets again, holding casseroles every day.
Casseroles Student Protest Montreal - June 2nd- 2012 - Mont-Royal streetdavidarangovalencia

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Canada's Maple Spring

Canada's Maple Spring

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