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The Québec student movement on the move : a history of recent actions against the government`s tuition hike

Winter 2010 : Québec government announces tuition increases

February 2010, the Québec government announces plans to increases tuition claiming a consensus has been reached on the issue. Hundreds of students demonstrate in opposition days later. The 2012 tuition increases are confirmed in the provincial government`s March budget.

Spring-summer 2010 : The Québec student movement warns the government

April 1, over 40,000 students launch a one-day strike to join unions, community groups and other social forces in a massive protest against planned increases in user fees and the government’s budget, including the planned tuition hikes.

Fall 2010 : The mobilization begins

September 24, fifty students occupy the Minister of Education`s offices. October 21, hundreds of students protest in Montreal in response to the government’s attempts to legitimize the tuition hike through a series of public consultation exercises. December 6, 60,000 students go on a one day strike to coincide with the government’s public consultation exercise in Quebec City. A petition of 30,000 signatures against the tuition hike is delivered to the Quebec parliament 3 days later.

Winter 2011 : The tuition hike is announced

January and February see an explosion of actions against the government. Occupations, banner drops, marches spread across the province. March 12, sees 50,000 students and workers in the streets of Montreal. Despite this, the government announces tuition will go up $1625 over 5 years starting in 2012.

Spring 2011 : The student movement responds

Students organize a wave of occupations of MPP’s offices. The Minister of Finance’s office is occupied on March 24. March 31, 50,000 students go out on another one day strike to protest the tuition hike.

Summer 2011 : The students prepare for the coming school year

Actions continue against the Minister of Finance`s office. 200 delegates representing over 200,000 students meet in early May and unanimously declare opposition to the planned tuition hike.

Fall 2011 : Unprecendented mobilization across Quebec

October sees student protests in every major city in Quebec including the regions. November 10 sees the largest student mobilization in Quebec since the massive 2005 general strike: 30,000 students protest in Montreal while half the student population in Quebec walks out on a one day strike.

Winter 2012 : Towards an unlimited general strike?

After two years of marches, occupations, petitions, media work and fundraising, the government continues to ignore the students. It is time for students to use their strongest weapon, the one that has been behind the student movement’s most important victories : the unlimited general strike.