Ontario students are planning a massive rally in solidarity with protesters in Quebec and their ongoing fight against proposed tuition hikes there.
Student activist Xavier Lafrance told reporters at Queen's Park Friday that Ontario students will rally on June 5 in a so-called "day of action," which has been inspired by ongoing student protests in Montreal.
"It's been an incredible example of democracy," he said of the Montreal protests. "It's been a very inspiring one."
Lafrance said high tuition in Ontario is limiting the ability of some students to attend post-secondary education.
"The Quebec student union needs support," Lafrance said. "The government said that it would bargain in the face of show solidarity movement on May 22. They invited the unions to bargain again…but we are still facing repression. They need support in Quebec."
Lafrance said a student solidarity network of student union groups, individuals and labour unions was created in Ontario on Thursday.
This group will lead the June 5 rally. Lafrance released few other details about the day.
When pressed, Lafrance, who was joined by Canadian Federation of Students representative Sandy Husdon, wouldn't condemn the violence in Montreal, saying that the point of the protests was to bring down tuition fees.
"My goal is to see an accessible post-secondary education system in Ontario and we will do whatever it takes to get there," Hudson said.
Ontario Minister of Education Laurel Broten responded to the press conference by saying that the Ontario Student Assistance Program funding has been doubled, and the government has also created a new 30 per cent tuition grant.
Quebec students have staged massive rallies for more than 100 days against a hike in tuition and a new law aimed at curbing the revolt. At least 2,500 people have been arrested and fined since the student demonstrations began three months ago.
