Ontario students and staff vow to fight tuition fees in Ontario,
condemn oppression of students in Québec
TORONTO, May 25, 2012 - Students and staff held a press conference this morning
to condemn oppressive laws in Québec meant to stifle student protest, and to
commit to building the movement in Ontario for the creation of an affordable,
accessible and high quality system of post-secondary education.
"The best way we can show solidarity toward students in Quebec is to fight to
reduce tuition fees and to defend quality public education in Ontario," said Sandy
Hudson, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students—Ontario. "Ontario's
terrible record on post-secondary education cannot be the benchmark for Quebec,
or anywhere else in Canada."
For 103 days, students in Quebec have been striking in opposition to a proposed 75
per cent tuition fee increase by the Charest government in Quebec. In Ontario,
tuition fees have increased by as much as 71 per cent since 2006.
Last night, a broad group of student, faculty and community activists assembled at
Ryerson and vowed to maintain actions to build a movement to oppose tuition fees
in Ontario. "Minister Glen Murray has tried to avoid public scorn for his
government's seventh consecutive tuition fee increase," said Hudson. Students and
staff in Ontario are inspired by students in Québec and will show solidarity through
actions, demonstrations and events across our province targeting our government."
The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario unites more than 300,000 college and
university undergraduate and graduate students in all regions of the province.