March 8 2012

Having missed the student demonstration against tuition fee hikes yesterday, I ran into another tonight when heading downtown to find something to shoot. By my estimate, there were a few hundred students winding their way through the downtown core and appeared to be out numbered by police cars diverting rush hour traffic.

I managed to get a few shots before it started pouring with rain, at which point I left the demonstrators who were blocking rue Guy next to Concordia University.

Montreal Mounted Police

Police car convoy

Police following Montreal student protesters

The 3 Amigo’s: Commuters, student demonstrators and police

Buses blocked on rue Guy

There are currently 130,000 university and CÉGEP students striking across Quebec in opposition to the proposed increases in tuition fees. Despite Quebec having the lowest tuition fees in Canada, students say the government’s plan to raise fees by $325 a year for five years poses a serious threat to access to higher education. The proposed hikes will increase the cost of attending university from $2,168 to $3,793 in 2016/17. The Charest Government appears tough in its stance and doesn’t look likely to be shifted by the current student strike action, so more protests and disruption for commuters can be expected for the foreseeable future.

To view images in gallery format, simply click on one of the images below.

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time.

– Martin

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