Civil Unrest in Quebec

[Valmy]

Absolutely.  And you have a political process in your province to decide things like education spending.  The system worked as designed, and arrived at the decision that tuition would be raised.  If you don't like the decison, vote for someone else next election.

Democracy is not perfect.  Sometimes the system gets corrupted and more direct action is needed by the population.  I am not saying that you might not be correct in this particular case but just because you have a Democratic constitution does no mean you can get your way simply by voting in another party.  Politicians...they lie.

[Grey Fox]

If they don't like it they can go ahead & change the rules of redistribution.

It wouldn't be in our benefit - we are a province receiving perequation. So yes part of our budget comes from the other provinces funding us so that we give services equal in quality.

I know and it won't change before the Western Pops gets bigger then Ontario + Quebec combined.

Je veux juste dire, si ils aiment pas sa, ils ont juste a en parler avec la gouvernement Fédéral. D'ici là on va en faire ce qu'on veu. Comme des garderies a 7$ qui enrage l'Alberta.

[Admiral Yi]

Protesting is perfectly legitimate in a democracy.

Protest that follows the law is perfectly legitimate.

[Drakken]

Protesting is perfectly legitimate in a democracy.

Protest that follows the law is perfectly legitimate.

The law was followed - until they voted Bill 78. Because of this faulty law, it has become civil disobedience because people fundamentally disagree with the spirit and the letter of the law. It's not like we have guns pulled and we are in apprehended insurrection, people march in the street and deliberately refuse to give their route to the police.

If I follow you, when a government votes a law that goes against the Constitution, and when this government refuses to listen and communicate to protest in good faith, but rather decides to treat them with contempt and condescendence, we should all be quiet and obey until the next election. That precludes any possibility of lawful protest - and not so lawful when the government treats them as enemies to silence and trample down. I'm shocked than an American, from a country who worships its Founding Father who actually took arms and killed for their mostly financial revendications - would throw out such a legalistic idea.

[Grey Fox]

Protesting is perfectly legitimate in a democracy.

Protest that follows the law is perfectly legitimate.

Fuck their laws. We'll respect then when they are made for legitimate reasons & not just to stay in power.

I did not vote for them to enact laws of repression that go against our constitution either.

[Admiral Yi]

The law was followed - until they voted Bill 78. Because of this faulty law, it has become civil disobedience because people fundamentally disagree with the spirit and the letter of the law. It's not like we have guns pulled and we are in apprehended insurrection.

You sure about that?  Quebec/Montreal has no laws about protest permits and approved areas?

If I follow you, when a government votes a law that goes against the Constitution, and when the government refuses to listen and communicate in good faith, we should all be quiet and obey until the next election. That precludes any possibility of lawful protest - and not so lawful when the government treats them as enemies to silence and trample down. I'm shocked than an American, from a country who worships its Founding Father who actually took arms and killed for their mostly financial revendications - would throw out such a legalistic idea.

Not even close.  If the provincial government is breaking a higher law, then presumably your court system will correct it.

[Valmy]

Not even close.  If the provincial government is breaking a higher law, then presumably your court system will correct it.

The authorities can just do no wrong eh?

[Sheilbh]

It is not a universal Anglo thing.  The Brits love their free education as well.  It is a North American thing.  I am not sure how those wacky Aussies do it.

I don't know how they do it but I know that university funding's a big issue in Australia too.

We're not free.  Tuition fees are now up £9000 a year

[Drakken]

You sure about that?  Quebec/Montreal has no laws about protest permits and approved areas?

As far as I know, people are free to protest in the streets as much as they want - without legal obligation giving them a route. Most do on their own accord, however, for safety reasons. Not this time.

If they want to protest on a private property they need the advise the administrative body in advance, as long as they remain on the grounds, respect the law and inlaws, and do not attempt to go inside.

Not even close.  If the provincial government is breaking a higher law, then presumably your court system will correct it.

This process is ongoing, right now. And hundreds of lawyers are offering their services pro bono to help the student bodies, and even the Barreau du Québec has officially spoken against that law.

[Sheilbh]

You sure about that?  Quebec/Montreal has no laws about protest permits and approved areas?

Wouldn't surprise me.  Britain's only recently got them.

[Admiral Yi]

The authorities can just do no wrong eh?

Authorities can do all kinds of wrong.  But this particular case is not, AFAICT, one of authorities acting illegally.  It's one of a minority objecting to the decision of a legally constituted government to give them less free money than before.

[Valmy]

I don't know how they do it but I know that university funding's a big issue in Australia too.

We're not free.  Tuition fees are now up £9000 a year

Wow.  Maybe it is a Anglo-Saxon thing.  Or can we blame this on Celts and Normans?  I guess if we were like the Normans we would be living like Danes and live off Lego profits.

[Admiral Yi]

As far as I know, people are free to protest in the streets as much as they want - without legal obligation giving them a route. Most do on their own accord, however, for safety reasons. Not this time.

Seriously?  I can walk up and down the main drags of Montreal blocking traffic as long as I'm protesting something?

Hey, if that's the way it is, more power to you.

[Grey Fox]

Montreal has a couple of municipal rules for it but IIRC Quebec had none.

Most of our social laws were enacted in the 70s, that would have been unthinkable for them to do that.

[viper37]

Let us hope this brings down the federalist scumbag and his corrupt government. 




G.

The FTQ is just as corrupt and the government, if not more.  When did the students refuse their money?