Friday 21 September 2012
Update on the Student Struggle
Over the past six months, I have posted several items regarding the student struggle to oppose a government decision to raise post-secondary tuition significantly. There have been important developments in this struggle during the past three weeks. For those who may not have been in a position to follow these, I offer a brief summary:
The Liberal Government decided to call an election for September 4. They counted on their first stance against the students as a rallying point for much of the population. (They also wanted to assure an election before the results of the Charbonneau Commission on corruption issued its report next Spring.) Well, the government lost the election, the leader lost his seat. The Partie Québécois was elected and swore in its Cabinet on September 19. The new Prime Minister (Pauline Marois) then held a press conference in which she announced the following
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Hello Richard,
ReplyDeleteThings move quickly. The finance minister reintroduced the tax on health care(more like an annual supplementary fee), claiming that he didn't have the choice because the rich didn't want the proposed taxe hikes and the opposition parties would not vote with the governement on those. The fundamental injustice of the supplementary tax on health care is becoming an accepted reality.
Why am I not surprised. Reality sets in, the pressures mount and the tendency is to return to "business as usual." Nevertheless, it was an important moment when the first announcements were madè; they reflected precisely the issues that had raised public outcry in previous months. A moment of truth and one that should encourage us to continue.
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