France is broke....go live there.

France is great....best medical care in the world, one of the best living standards and life styles....enjoy your big mac, big ego, and big military.

One day these young people will be in the position of leadership.......and then they will do a turnabout!

How I love the peaceful protest of those who feel entitled to money they have not worked for. The Tea Party protesters in America should learn from these people and the Occupiers, permits and peace get you called names like "teabaggers", yet if you break laws, destroy and damage properties you will be given much more credibility by the media.

These poor students having to pay so much for a college education, I feel so bad for them. And to think I thought the children being used as shields, being tortured and killed in Syria had it bad, I did not realize the pain of these students and their "right" to a paid education.

What they have failed to realize is that higher education is once again becoming the exclusive province of the wealthy elite. Unfortunately, as part of the same process, other forms of employment have dwindled, so even the 'market economy' doesn't offer an option. The more draconian the measures taken to quell unrest, the more explosive will be the ultimate resolution. Not my wish, just the lesson of history.....

Good to see someone doing something about it

The protests had begun to flag around that time because Premier Jean Charest's government appeared unwilling to back off the $1,582 (over five years -- or about $316 per annum) in planned hikes from the current $2,110 tuition, or to offer significant concessions, Ancelovici said.

Oh my God! What will the poor children do?!!! $316 a year less money for beer and back bacon! Woe is me!!!!!!!

Many Canadians consider universal health care to be a defining characteristic of their national identity.

LOL! And they wonder why they are the number one producer of second raters. What a bunch of pathetic boobs.

In typical fashion, college costs have been underfunded for years. If you're a liberal, you can say the government didn't provide enough funding. If you're a conservative, you can say the students didn't pay their fair share. Either way, this is unsustainable and the bill must be paid somehow.

The article says Quebec will still have among the lowest cost college tuition in Canada, even after the increase. But the numbers quoted don't add up. The article says it's a 75% increase in tuition, but later says the present tuition of $2110 (per semester? per year? Either way that's ridiculously cheap!) will go up by $316 per year.

That is not anywhere close to a 75% increase. As someone above stated, that's basically beer money.

I understand the students are angry and don't want to pay more, but they have no idea how good they have it compared to students elsewhere. Here in the U.S., you can't even go to a community college for $2110 per year. At a state university, that won't even buy you one semester's tuition.

you people understand that the protests have been going on over a hundred days ? and that the violence from the protesters is in response to the increasing violence from the police. Or do people only have the right to protest not see change from the protest?

RAW 250,000 Massive Montreal Rally mar… that was in may and has grown in numbers

Pots & Pans Protest: Angry Canadians …

http://www.globalmontreal.com/6442650386/story.html

http://vimeo.com/42848523

Zankudo,

The US needs a big military to protect your a$$ since the 4 phases of the French military are: (1) run, (2) hide, (3) capitulate, and (4) switch sides.

save the environment

Vive la France!

Typical Americans, don't know schitt about Canada. Libs protest against the cons, and vice versa. How about educating yourselves on Canadian affairs before making stupid comments?

that the protests included a law that passed that is violation of their charter rights, which would be like the government passing law(s) that violate our constitutional except they are actually taking to the streets to say no you can not violate our charter rights.

After the fee increase, Quebec will still have the lowest tuition fees in Canada. These are just creedy students who wants to pay nothing. They also disrupt and threaten students who went into classrooms for lectures. These protesters are thugs. A lot of them are not even students. They are professional protesters imported from other provinces.

Tao, Quebec is allowed under the Constitution to pass laws that does not conform with the Constitution. It's called the "Not Withstanding Clause". This is not the first time they invoke this clause.

charter right violations ....but why protest those violations they should just take it like americans do constitutional violations right?

These idiots do realize that, even after the tuition hikes are factored in, that they are paying a tuition that the vast majority of college students would give their right arm to be able to pay. It used to be that people would protest for worthwhile causes. Now it seems that every "protest" by younger people today centers around one theme: "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!." But hey, should we have expected anything else? This is the first generation that has reached adulthood after being told for their entire childhood that "everyone is a winner," which I guess they misunderstood as being "everyone is a whiner."

american tuition has gone up 511% since 1999 and interest rates are about to double. but the banks are not the gimme gimme with the bails outs ...just students.

Victoria Grant

Tao-Ah yes...proving once again that banks are to liberals/socialists as Bush is to Obama: the handy talking point to bring up and blame for everything.

Wow, the first poster didn't even realize the article is about Quebec, Canada?!?

But here we go again, big govt. is not working, and now the entitled are mad because they have to become more responsible than they were before....Poor Babies! I also noticed there is a move to privatize health care, so I guess Universal health care is not working for Canadians either.

And the bad part is, there are people in America so stupid they want to copy these failed policies.......

INCREDIBLE!

there is no difference between Bush and Obama except maybe Obama is slightly worse. your comment about students being gimme gimme when education has obviously had a rate of increase that is out of control and is not reflective of the true cost. 511% with interest rates about to increase that is not inline with back in the day as so many would like to point out. But the banks are not gimme gimme right just the students? never the systems always the people.

I thought you righties hated government

Did anyone notice that the majority of the increase collected would go to student loans? Ever since the gov't got involved with student loans and giving them out to everyone even if they have no means to pay it back, the cost of tuition has skyrocketed? Higher education is not a right, it is something earned and worked for based on good grades and effort. Pretty soon a college degree will be worthless. How many more non manufacturing jobs do we need? Pushing paper and staring at a computor screen all day produces nothing.

The last bastion of tyranny: CANADA!

I thought you righties hated government

mynightmare

Yes , we hate big government and hand outs.

You leftest love big government, and my money.

Nothing is more rewarded than work for your money , not wait for the government to pay your bills. Leftist need to grow and stop whining.

What you don't realize is that the tuition issue is an excuse. $3600.00US a year for tuition after the increase. The vote to 'strike' after an hours long meeting was a show of hands after mostly strike supporters remained, not democratic. Only 25% were on 'strike' at end of term. The opposition Parti Quebecois (separatists) has been pulling the strings from the beginning. It is a effort to destabilize the elected government with an election around the corner. All the student leaders are PQ sympathizers, and since no one in the private sector will hire them after this they will be working for, or candidates for, the Parti Quebecois.

About health care:

A few doctors have opted out of the public system and you can get an MRI privately if you want to pay for it. But there is no chance we will ever go to an American style health care system.

So, they want to privatize their healthcare- who knew?! I did! they pay outrageous taxes to pay for their healthcare, and yet like to claim it's FREE. Have you bought anything in Canada lately? On the receipt, there are two different sales tax. And their paycheck has about 5 different deductions to pay for their free stuff. And gas- about $6 a gallon. Liberals are such lemmings...

PS, gas in France is $8 to $10 a gallon, that's why they drive those little tin can cars, and they are taxed on horsepower.

There is no chance we will ever go the way of Canada

This is why I love MSNBC comments, the ignorance is @!$%#ing glorious.

The women need to be careful. Canadian police has been shown to rape female protesters .

PS, gas in France is $8 to $10 a gallon, that's why they drive those little tin can cars, and they are taxed on horsepower.

You are right. They pay so much to the government that only wealthy families can own a house. Most people of middle class only can afford to buy a little apartment like a math box , and most middle class families have only one car . This is the kind of system leftist wants in USA.

the current $2,110 tuition

Holy crap, they're complaining about a $300 per year hike on that? Jesus Christ they're spoiled. I graduated from a top-tier state university a few years ago, and $2100 wouldn't even have covered the second-level meal plan for a semester. $2100 would cover maybe two classes for a semester. And they're complaining about having to pay a little over three grand for a year's tuition?

Stop being brats; you have it easy. American students basically have to take out a mortgage if they want to go to college and aren't from a wealthy family. Count your blessings, get out of the streets, and go back to work.

$316 a year less money for beer and back bacon! Woe is me!!!!!!!

Just because you didn't do anything with your college education, and had friends who didn't do anything either, doesn't mean that's what everybody did. And since $316 is so little, you should offer to fork it over, smart man. Oh wait, it is actually enough money you don't want to, isn't it?

Infantile remarks. Basically if people don't like a cause, they don't like the protesters. Tough s**t. That is why there are laws to protect as*h*les from trying to make everyone think like them and yet do nothing about it.

Fatten up, America, and bulge out in your chair. It is the national passtime! At least you can see the Canadian protestors weigh have as much on average. Because they actually aren't pigging out like the obese people who did when they went to college.

Even after the hikes, Quebec’s tuition fees will remain among the lowest in Canada

And this is worth protesting over how? I don't understand how lemmings are coerced into embracing socialism in Canada or the USA. Just ignorant of the historical implications of what happens to you when you refuse to take responsibility for yourself as a citizen and choose to become a "kept" subject. I'm finally beginning to understand how Hitler rose to power by creating a scapegoat population to blame for all of Germany's post WWI woes and promising to handle all of the downtrodden citizens problems for them. The people of Germany choose the easy road and we all know how that turned out. Things aren't looking very promising on the world stage. WWIII will be brought to the world by people that have decided that they need to be taken care of by their benevolent governments.

I love it!! Can't people learn one simple thing YOU HAVE TO PAY TO PLAY

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

These students are greedy, heartless people, who don't want to help the poor students

About 35 percent of the new revenue will go to providing financial aid.

Don't they want to pay thier fair share and help the 35% who need financial aid??

Nothing worse than a heartless liberal

The financing plan would bring in an additional revenue of $826 million, with $418 million coming from the government

The Gov't is paying for over 1/2 the money!!!!!!!!!

Nothing worse than a greedy liberal

Just sad the world has turned into this entitlement, me me me , greedy people mentality.

This is why I love MSNBC comments, the ignorance is @!$%#ing glorious

Proving your own point..............priceless.

Classic entitlement mentality! What jerks! $2100 PER YEAR tuition and they're protesting. The rest of Canada averages $5000 per year right now! Socialism SUCKS when you're paying the bills. Don't believe? Sales Taxes in Quebec are almost 15% now.

violation of charter rights, tuition as well but the protest center around violation of charter rights.

Is Red trying to blow that cop?

Is Red trying to blow that cop?

More importantly, is that cop Mitt Romney? The resemblance is uncanny.

Also, does it appear to anyone else that a bottle of spring water is standard-issue riot gear for Canadian cops?

Zankudo

France is great....best medical care in the world, one of the best living standards and life styles

Sure it is, because every time they get into trouble someone comes to bail them out. There will be no bailing them out of socialism though, the Germans are tired of bankrolling the rest of Europe's extremes.

Darn, I should have said the "rabbit is purple", was a joke folks. I know full well that Quebec is part of Canada and not France. But seriously aside from poor economics France has a decent quality of life( which is not based on materialism of course). Most people are more supportive and respectful of each other and less greedy than Americans. The food is is quite good too. I might go live there.

The president, Hollande, just mentioned that he wants austerity and no bailout money, pretty much along the Merkel lines. How's that for entitled socialism ?

Also France Telecom is most likely bringing back their call centers from abroad( Tunisia and Morocco). That's one way to improve the French economy with 4000 jobs and cut funding to Muslim countries. Should work as well as bullets.

Sorry for causing commotion on the Vine. I didn't realize I was going to arouse hateful ethnocentric cliches in many. Go Republicans! (not).

The French Revolution was in 1789. The American Revolution was before that in 1776. What happened?

Just like the republican did for wall street. I didn't know they were socialists.

every time they get into trouble someone comes to bail them out. There will be no bailing them out of socialism

Just like the republican did for wall street. I didn't know they were socialists.

Quebec used to pay people to learn the French language if they settle there. Not like the illegals of the US who force Americans to listen to "Yabbadabbado!"

Ronald...while I do not like Bullfighters statement, it wasn't "racist". Illegal Immigrants aren't a "race", they are a classification of people within our boarders. You made the assumption that he was speaking of people of a different color from him (what that is, I do not know). Illegals come in all races, and he was making a blanket statement. How was it "racist"?

Eric,

The issue is that most people when talking about illegal immigrants refer to countries that have brown and black people. Rarely are they talking about (White) people from France, England, Spain, UK, Portugal etc...

If they were America would look very different. If they were, you would not have neo nazis and other militia patrolling the boarder, talking mainly about the latino community.

So you are right...but most Americans are only concerned with folks of color and less about white people.

Saying it how it is,

The issue is that most people when talking about illegal immigrants refer to countries that have brown and black people. Rarely are they talking about (White) people from France, England, Spain, UK, Portugal etc...

Ahhhh thought police.

eric60watts

Also, that whole "yabbadabbado"bit. That is ridiculously offensive.

Saying it how, "Illegal" Isn't a race. It's the race baiters such as yourself that make it into a race issue. In the Boston area the highest # of Illegals by nationality are Irish. Last time I checked the vast majority of Irish are white. Regardless of their color ALL Illegals should be shipped back to where they come from.

Don't speak for "Most" Americans until you've spoken to ALL of us.

I can agree with you that Quebec should be allowed to be its own country, however, when they come crying back to canada, they should be told to cry to the french, and as you know, the french dont care! LOL

So you are right...but most Americans are only concerned with folks of color and less about white people.

That's not really true. We have many Haitians, and Cubans here illegally but you never here "most Americans" talk about them. The reason most Americans, when referring to illegal immigration usually refer to Hispanics is not because they are of color, but because only one immigrant group in this country is recking havoc on our hospitals, our schools, and our prisons. Money that Local and State governments have is being drained by people who have broken the law to get here. Drugs, and human trafficking continues to be a problem, and people in other countries trying to come to the states legally are being made to wait because someone has cut in line. Jobs and wages are being impacted because you are now competingwith people who will work for anything as long as they get to stay here. Most "Americans" I know work with and our friends with many Hispanics, but make a distinction between legal and illegal.

Saying...glad you can speak for the majority of people in this country. But also, have you stopped to think WHY, even if you are correct, it would be that way? I guess it is automatically because of the color of their skin. But could it also not be, that a) most illegals are actually from the southern boarder and across the Pacific and b) because those populations do less about trying to show respect to the country they are in by learning the language and culture? Most people I know have no problem with legal immigration...OF ANY COLOR. What people do have a problem with is the lack of respect shown by these groups regarding our laws (spitting in the face of millions who do the process legally), and who refuse to assimilate into society, and instead, keep themselves in insular communities, and begin changing the countries culture. And before you jump on THAT...should we go to other countries and change them? We are railed against for influencing other locations, but we are supposed to allow it to happen here.

And you make the statement about patroling the boarder. Where are they supposed to? Who do you think is slinking across teh boarder between us and Mexico, or coming across the Western boarders? You don't see to many French crossing the Mexican boarder into the United States, and probablly less Irish sneaking in through the Western states.

How about going after the AMERICANS who hire illegals, but that would require common sense.

Vive la France? You have to be kidding, right?

Uh, Quebec is in CANADA, not France, and has about as much to do with France as New Jersey has to do with Scotland.

Getting back to the point, one can see the parallels between a tuition hike in Quebec, and the brutal dictatorships that killed and tortured tens of thousands of people in Arab countries across the middle east.

It is about the same thing, right?

Maple spring my arse...

see logic required that statement was racist. The reason I know it is is because I live in a community with alot of diversity including illegal hispanics from many countries including Mexico and most of them are the hardest working, most polite and nicest people you would ever like to meet

Also, that whole "yabbadabbado"bit. That is ridiculously offensive

LOL Yabbadabbado offensive... It's not spanish it's from the Flintstones

"Mexico and most of them are the hardest working, most polite and nicest people you would ever like to meet"

Yes aside from the fact that they are here ILLEGALLY, They steal peoples identities(SS Numbers) so that they can work or they work under the table, They are a burden to our school systems, welfare,WIC,hospitals The cause havoc with peoples credit reports and cause IRS audits they are just model citizens...LOL...if you were trying not to be noticed you would be polite and nice too.

Did I forget to mention the drug smuggling, Human trafficking, money laundering, gangs and gang violence they bring with them.

Nice people...LOL...It was said that Ted Bundy was a very amicable person ...when he was not out being a serial killer that is!

The problem with liberals is that they equate opposition to ILLEGAL immigration with racism simply because of the demographics of the majority of people who are illegally immigrating. I don't care if you're a Mexican from Tijuana or the whitest Norwegian on the planet -- if you're here illegally, get out.

EDIT: Actually, when you think about it, liberals equate anything that's opposite their beliefs with racism because it's a much easier cop-out and "explanation" than actually forming a coherent thought or counterpoint.

MandatedLiberalIdea - Like.

See Lost in the pine barens when you say that these are the folks that are into human trafficing I say no it is the "coyotes" and the US companies that hire with out checking that are guilty of that. And to say that people are running drugs just because they are mexican is ludicris. Most of the street dealers in my town just happen to be white runaways from other parts of the country. That is just the way it is, but not to be racist about it there are many young white folks in our community that are hard working and studious and will be strong productive members of society. I work for my local park ranger dept and we clean-up homeless camps all the time and they are always occupied by white and sometimes black people. And when you do the clean-up you always find needles and drug paraphanalia and stolen bikes. these clean-ups cost money, tax payer money. So my point is that people from any race can be probelematic to soceity. Illegal or not.

Romney, what is it about ILLEGAL that you don't seem to understand? By your own comments we have enough problems with our own legal residents. We don't need anymore.

Regardless of their race/nationality ILLEGAL = Criminal. They should all be deported.

What has happened to education on this whole Continent is deplorable.

Hey if you got money you can be educated, but sorry if you don't have wealthy parents you cannot forget about higher ed opps!!!! Intelligence doesn't cut t anymore, but if you can throw a pitch, run along a filed and catch or kick a ball you get free education.

When will humanity run this world again for when money and the want for more runs it seems to destroy educational opps, basic living and feeding healthfully and equal opportunity is now a concept long gone in the past!

Janine guess what, I agree. Illegal means Illegal those people that are here illegally should be sent to the home country. If that is Mexico then so be it. If that is the Netherlands or Sweden so be it. But the race of the folks you need to send home is not important

How does an article about tuition in Quebec, Canada turn into a debate about illegal immigrants in US?

I was responding to a specific previous post, sorry to go off topic

People tend to see what they want. Illegal immigration is a difficult issue to solve, as apparently some people have a vested interest in it remaining as it currently is. Sort of like the drug problem. Some elements refuse to see it in any other term except a drug war.

If we can possibly get back to the subject, all of this was a hike of $1500, to $3500 a year? At least that is what I got from the article. And this hike came from "left-of-center" politicians dealing with a $800 million deficit. To think US kids were conned into "solidarity" when these kids get such a sweet deal.

Now our education system needs to be fixed. Just like our healthcare system. The problem is liberals only think of how to get everyone to pay for it (not counting the significant number who would get a free ride), and conservative oppose their efforts. Yet nobody really has taken a look at why both education & healthcare cost has risen for two decades at 2 to 3 x the inflation rate, and done something to correct this.

Talk about spoiled brats. If our kids could get tuition of $2,100.00 or even $3,600.00 they would think they just won the lottery. See what happens when you give people something for nothing or nearly nothing, they just get greedier and think they are entitled to whatever you were gifting them. They need to grow up and pay the tuition and consider themselves lucky.

StevenX

I agree. In the case of health care it is the burden of those who doctors and hospitals are legally required to care for that take moutains of paperwork to get pittance pay from the government and the mountains of paperwork to get paid at reduced rates from insurance companies who try to pay as few bills as possible. Stop having to provide care to illegals and force insurance companies to reduce the BS paperwork, and pay for free medical care ONLY for people in real need of assistance not drug addicts, gunshots victims in gang wars, welfare people having more and more babies, etc.

As to the tuition, look at the teachers unions, golden retirement plans and overpaid administrators as well as a stupid law that lets government tax dollars be granted to universities for medical research that has resulted in new medicines but then is allowed to give the patent for these medicines to a pharmaceutical company and not pay the university on each sale of the medication. Case in point, the vaccine to prevent cervical cancer from a virus was developed on tax dollars at an American university yet if you want you daughter to have it, the cost is $800.00. That kind of crap needs to be stopped.

Silly shrinks, you don't now what you are taling about. Every heard of scholarships based on merit ? Our President and his wife attended Harvard on scholarships. Apply if you qualify, otherwise, stop whining.
But back to the article : I wish we had the law forbidding masks, balaclavas and other things obscuring the face. People who cover up their faces and then destroy private and public property are nothing but PATHETIC HOOLIGANS !
Funny how the privatisation of health care is one of the concerns of the demonstrators.
What escapes me here and in other cities around the world where the populace demonstrates against austerity measures is : do they think they can generate money out of thin air ?

The reason poor people come illegally to the US is that their countries are even worse off than we are.After seeing our movies and TV programs all their lives they have bought into the American Dream ideal.They don't realize that right now we are in the beginning of an economic meltdown and there is rising anger about the huge number of illegal's here.But there is a simple way to solve (or at least lessen largely)the illegal problem.That is to prosecute the employers that hire them.After a few high visibility arrests and imprisonments the illegals wouldn't be able to get work and would start leaving.But since the business's that make big profits off of hiring illegals usually have power in high circles nothing is ever done to them.To change the wording on a known saying "if you don't build it,they won't come". The solution is not to turn ourselves into a police state.And be on the hunt for illegal aliens,militarize the borders,hire legions of border guards.The easiest solution is to kill the reason they come here,the ability to get jobs.

Socialism only works when you have enough capitalists to support it, Sooner or later you wind up with more socialists than capitalists and there is not enough money to support their demands and they are then required to contribute, At which point they vilify the capitalists who are supporting them and they demonstrate demanding more from the capitalists.

way to bs yourself with generalizations, keep drinking koolaid

I dunno.....his logic kind of makes sense.

Ronald...you lake to throw around a lot of hate and names...please back up your statement on #3.3.

@Lost,

Your dead on right! What your missing though, is that most libral/socialist have a very strange understanding of economics that include "money fairies" and "Leprechaun gold".

Ronald Hussein Reagan Lost in the Pine Barrrens - you are a simpleton with a simpletopn's view of economics.

LOL...I am a simpleton who is self employed, I own a successful small business, I own a succesful small farm and I do not mind working and getting my hands dirty or getting a blister , I did not go to college, I instead went to Viet Nam where I was shot and lost part of the muscle in my leg from a mortar, I unlike you know far more about economics that you ever will, You call me names like simpleton yet you rely on people like me to pay taxes so that people like you can get a free ride and complain when even the tiniest contribution to your own support is asked of you.

If name calling is all you have then you really do not have anything at all, I guess that is why you chose your screen name.

Lost in the Pine Barrens and you are self-employed and collecting tax cuts, breaks and NJ subsidies NJ employed pay for through THEIR taxes. But then, these whiners or the right say, "ooooh but the country is sooo "unfriendly" to businesses...When the "country" taxpayers just handed Big Oil $12 billion? When the country handed the 1% 3 tax cuts in 10 years? When the country hands out tax cuts to businesses like they were lollipops?

You right wingers need a foot up your rumps. We are not your safety nets. Your businesses don't function without our tax dollars or our consumer assistance. And if your right wing Republican Big Businessmen can afford to spend $500 million in campaign funding for the GOP, how poor are you really? Now you know what President Obama was referring to when he stated, "the economy is doing fine." It must be if Big Business Wussy Bois can afford to spend that kind of moolah on campaign donations to a party they know will do their bidding in reprehensible ignorance of taxpayers and voters.

Lost in the Pine Barrens and you are self-employed and collecting tax cuts, breaks and NJ subsidies NJ employed pay for through THEIR taxes

LOL ewent..you have no idea who I am or what I pay in taxes...I get no tax cuts or tax breaks or tax subsidies , In fact I pay my fair share and then some in taxes ,your hate for men especially white men who are succesful never ceases to amaze me...Maybe if I took some state subsidized dance classes you would like me better.

Yu seem to have no problem with your gifts from the government but certainly do hate it when the same govt takes less of someone elses tax money.

Here is a news flash...without taxpayers government could not exist and that means there would be no money for all those special cultural arts classes

Your businesses don't function without our tax dollars or our consumer assistance.

ewent, if it weren't for those "right-winger" business owners, you wouldn't have a job or the income to even PAY taxes! Christ, you people are so stupid it's really laughable.

Over all the Canadian economic system works better than the US system. The proof is in the numbers. Since the economic crash of '08 there has been no drop in property values, they have gone up. No mass loss of jobs, really not much of an economic downturn fo us at all, in spite of the fact that the US is our largest trading partner.

Our social safety net and medicare system cussioned the blow and we only had a few months of negative growth. We have plenty of millionaires and billionaires so how can we be called socialist?

In Canada we have responsible capitalism, as opposed to the irresponsible kind.

ewent-

Big Business Wussy Bois also give that money to Obama. Tons of it. Let's be truthful here. Better check to see how much he has in the re-election war chest before throwing that stone.

Also, why would you attack a guy such as Lost in the Pine Barrens who obviously has worked hard his whole life and is successful, and was wounded in service to his country? He deserves better than that from you and everyone else.

BTW, who is this "we" you are referring to? Do you have a mouse in your pocket? You think business owners are all "right wingers"? Think again. Or better yet, start thinking.

Lost...I know where the Pine Barrens are. I live in NJ if those are the famous Pine Barrens your moniker refers to. Now smart ass...I've never worked less than 1 full-time and 2 part time jobs in 32 years. I know men like you. You are small business contractors who think nothing of doing 15 minutes of work and billing a year of my salary.

By the way, I've worked in environmental engineering for 23 years. Men like you are disgusting narrow minded fools who bully your way through life. Sorry, you and your right wing BS is not bullying this little lady.

As for right wingers providing jobs, oh really? Since 2004, the US has lost over 9 million jobs...all because of Billionaire Republicans now pumping $500 million each into the 2012 election. They conserved enough of their money by demanding tax cuts and subsidies the rest of us not foot those bills for and needless wars that cost over $3.2 trillion. Don't talk about how wonderful the righties are at creating jobs...not when in a single day back in 2004, 10,000 Americans lost their jobs.

Job creation and hiring isn't exactly the delight of the Corporation Assfaces these days. They know for every job they create or every employee they hire, their next $10 million bonus goes out the window. Who do you righties think you are BSing? Certainly not someone who has lived long enough to know right wing games and their notorious reputations for being wrong every time they open their mouths.

ewent-

Wow, got it all figured out, huh?

"My salary"? You make it sound like that's a bad thing. You should thank Pine and anyone else that employs your sorry ass.

ewent

Lost...I know where the Pine Barrens are. I live in NJ if those are the famous Pine Barrens your moniker refers to. Now smart ass...I've never worked less than 1 full-time and 2 part time jobs in 32 years. I know men like you. You are small business contractors who think nothing of doing 15 minutes of work and billing a year of my salary.

You know nothing of me, You only know what your blind hates thinks everything is...Do you hate your father and his truck farm or was it ok because he was your father, Your job history is no different than mine, I worked just as hard to get where I am as you have, The difference I do not demonize people like myself and I certainly did not get any help in the form of tax breaks or subsidies from my government

By the way, I've worked in environmental engineering for 23 years. Men like you are disgusting narrow minded fools who bully your way through life. Sorry, you and your right wing BS is not bullying this little lady.

LOL...ewent your hate could not be showing more, Yes I live in those famous NJ Pinelands which encompass a huge portion of the state so what!, Yes ewent I am just such a narrow minded bullying fool,

Enviornmental engineering...LOL...you mean your job is that of destroying other peoples jobs, You are the type that enjoys putting people thru hoops just so you can justify your job.

All one has to do is read any of you messages to see how much bigotry and hate you spew, Just more bigotry and hate from those who claim to be against bigotry and hate.

wow....

ewent

You are small business contractors who think nothing of doing 15 minutes of work and billing a year of my salary.

Way to paint every small business contractor with the same broad brush stroke. Just because you have a bug up your butt, most likely because of bad business deals over the years with a couple of bad eggs, does not give you the right to demonize PineBarrens.

Or maybe you just have a thing against men in general? I'm just wondering. You're spewing a lot of hate.

I think it's pretty obvious that both of you claim to have worked hard to get where you are, and without evidence to the contrary I wouldn't dispute that. It sounds like there's some common ground somewhere between you. Maybe you could hold hands and sing "Kumbaya" for awhile? ;)

I think it's pretty obvious that both of you claim to have worked hard to get where you are, and without evidence to the contrary I wouldn't dispute that. It sounds like there's some common ground somewhere between you. Maybe you could hold hands and sing "Kumbaya" for awhile? ;)

OK Sean..I'm game

Ewent, I may disagree with Pine barrens about how to solve problems but I saw nothing in his commnet that could lead you to those conclusions about his business and personal life. I'm just saying that it is a disservice to just throw out that kind of speech to someone you don't exactly know.

But Lost in the Pines, you claim you did not get any tax breaks, that is a hard claim to make in todays world when Bush and Obama cut so many business taxes over the last ten years.

By a new set of laws I infer an awakening, and a reboot in our priorities. Capitalism and commercialism have ruined our culture and our value system.

Well said Melanie. I think it is no coincidence that we are seeing this all over the world; even in CANADA? I thought Canadians are habitually peaceful people, but I guess they'll obviously fight back if pushed.

Vive les Quebecoir!

I applaud my brothers and sisters to the North.

@GOP, Guess that you have never been there. Quebec is a pain in the butt to Canadians. It cost extra money to support a group of people the refuse to speak the language of the country. They have this uppity uppity attitude at people that are not french speaking. They were afraid of loosing their french they declare Qubec to bbe french speaking only in the 1960s sometime. heck thay haven't lost their french since before the days of "54.40 or fight"bout 200 yrs ago and they won't loose it over the next 200 tears. They cry about their debt but don't look at the extra expense that they cause on the rest of the country.

you should move to North Korea moooooron.

Jackasses like you always attack the person instead of the argument.

She's right. Austerity and the broken education systems are going to implode if something isn't done. People in Quebec should be glad they don't have to study in the States though. They'd kill themselves if they had to go through the debt situation some of our students do.

You mean the pooooooooooor babies will actually have to WORK to finance their education, just like the REST OF US have done for CENTURIES???? Oh- the outrage! THE HORROR!

Pffffffffft.

*sarcasm*

MELANIE- you claim that people need to open up their eyes and claim responsibility and that capitalism doesn't work?? WOW!! It's largely a socialist society....and because of this, the gov't, who's been offering to pay most of the kids education AND everone's medical expenses, ...is now...coming to the harsh realty that they cannot afford it any more. Socialism is falling apart all over the world. It's simple math- these countries simply cannot afford more and more 'handouts". Take Greece, for example: their primary cause of failure is ..the gov't pays out more than it collects. Quebec is attempting to be responsible. (let me guess...the 'hate' will start flowing my way vs an intellectual response). It's time to reign in spending now or really bad things are coming.

Ranman - I would attack Melanie's argument but she hasn't made one. Her post is a sting of platitutes that don't really mean anything. Simply stating that capitalism and austerity are bad and that we need to hit some metaphorical reset button is not an argument. What is her alternative?

Amen to HOTTICKET

@Melanie Simms

There is nothing we can say or do.. The cards to be played are 1 of 3 hands;
Bloody Revolution
Government World takeover
or Nothing at all

The best to do is can/preserve as much as possible from the garden, jerk beef or other meats and hope for the best.

By a new set of laws I infer an awakening, and a reboot in our priorities. Capitalism and commercialism have ruined our culture and our value system.

The better and proven alternatives being.....?

LOL 'SUFFERING'.

Learn what that word means. NOBODY is 'suffering' here. These people aren't starving in the streets. They're not breaking into food banks in order to feed their families. They're not rioting because they're destitute and hopeless. They all have clothes on their backs, roofs over their heads, food in their stomachs and access to clean drinking water, medicine and electricity. By this definition alone they're wealthier than over 90% of the global population.

A tuition hike on these people does not constitute 'suffering' by any stretch of the imagination. Especially when, even AFTER the hike, the annual tuition will barely be $4000, including housing. I'd venture to say that's less than many of them will spend annually on clothes, electronics and entertainment.

So spare us all the talk of 'suffering' as rich, spoiled brats throw a tantrum because their free ride is being made slightly less free. Let our socialists in charge see the monster their entitlements have wrought. Maybe it'll make them think twice before giving any more 'free' handouts.

Ranman....you make a statement that they are better off there than here as students, and would kill themselves if they "had to go through the debt situation some of our students do". No student here HAS to go through that. They make the CHOICE to. If you have to go that far into debt, with little chance of being able to support yourself AND pay it back, then it is clear...you don't go. You get what you can pay for, and if that is out of reach for you, then that is your issue. I didn't go to a 4 year college because I did not have the money. I went straight to work, putting down 2-3 jobs at a time in order to get a savings going. I didn't have tv's and computers and a car I couldn't afford. I lived responsibly, saved, and when I could, started taking classes. I ended up working towards and obtaining a business degree by going to night school. To this day, if I smell Ramen noodles I want to throw up. But guess what...got through it debt-free. And each and everyone of us can do the same. But it is just so much easier to go to the bank and draw out a loan while studying for a degree that will never pay. And please explain, in an industry that is running on a DEFICIT up there...how they are supposed to keep going as usual? Shoudl the teachers volunteer? The tax payers, already burdened, should they foot even more? Give us your ideas and see if they work.

mealnie...the computer/phone/tablet that you write your comments are are a direct product of what you rail against. Don't be a hypocrit and live what you preach.

Idiots dont want there comfy lives changed they would let anything happen to this world they just want to sit back let everyone else fight for the rights they are looseing and for the environment that they say is just fine.

6dogs

@GOP, Guess that you have never been there. Quebec is a pain in the butt to Canadians. It cost extra money to support a group of people the refuse to speak the language of the country. They have this uppity uppity attitude at people that are not french speaking.

Both English *and* French are official languanges of state in Canada. When the Quebecois are speaking French, they are speaking the language of the country.

Melanie, your allusions to Moses and Noah's ark are illogical. I doubt you have any idea what they represent. If that is representative of the level of higher education in Canada, you are wasting your time and money as well as the money of the taxpayers.

The problem with the notion that some of you have that everything should be "free" and that capitalism is "evil" is that it removes all incentive to do anything productive. If everybody just sat around on their asses expecting everything to be given to them, society would implode overnight. Capitalism sorts out the do-somethings from the do-nothings. It is modern day survival of the fittest.

The new Quebec law requires 8 hours notice of a protest march and the intended route. It also outlaws masks during the march.

In L.A. they require 30 days notice and in New York it's 2 weeks.

So who's being draconian?

The notion that capitalism is "evil" and everything should be "free" is not a notion espoused by American or Canadian liberals. There may be a few such individuals but they are not common or realistic. That is not even anything remotely resembling any of the current mainstream political ideologies found in North America. It is actually a conservative strawman.

Of course...your problem is that you ARE living in Texas. Harper is as popular as a adult polar bear in a petting zoo.

Quebec is Quebec. Entitlement pervades the Canadian mentality as well as the US mentalilty. Both countries are used to comfort.

This problem started when our politicians and businessmen sold out both of our countries for cheap Chinese goods subsidized by an artificially controlled currency in China, outright piracy by the Chinese, and a collusive toe-sucking governement back home.

I am all for austerity, but please do not blame our populace for this fiasco. Dump Chinese manufacturing, suck it up at the cash register and buy from HOME with DOMESTIC labor.

Excellent post.

Some of the people in my generation (baby boomer) wanted everyone to have a trophy, everyone to go to college, everyone to be absolutely the same no matter what. Unfortunately, these coddling ideas lessened the incentive for those that could to go ahead and do so, they simply coasted as there was no reward.

Well it is time to pay the piper and if you are one that believes the Government owes you a hand out, you will be the one that gets hurt the most. Let's face it, some people cannot afford to go to college.

There are many trades that need good people so quit whining and find something you like to do as you will be doing it for the majority of your adult life. More money is nice but it truly does not buy happiness. I would rather do something I liked for 40,000 per year than something I did not like for 100,000.

Robert...it is up to YOU to stop buying goods made in China. A business will continue to do so if people continue to buy. Most of what is manufactured over there are not necessities anyways, but luxuries. We can actually do without them.

eric60watts...Here's what I did in NJ. I started calling several businesses (small businesses and ask them if they sell goods with "Made In USA" labels. When they said "yes", I urged them to use that in their marketing, sales and advertising promotions. Guess what? It's starting to catch on.

When they said, "NO", I asked them if they knew how much business they might be losing from consumers who much rather purchase "Made In USA"...you'd be surprised at how many started to reverse their course when loss of profit was pointed out.

Here's what I did in NJ. I started calling several businesses (small businesses and ask them if they sell goods with "Made In USA" labels. When they said "yes", I urged them to use that in their marketing, sales and advertising promotions. Guess what? It's starting to catch on.

ewent...this is one of the few things I have to agree with you on.

I don't know what corner of Canada you're living in (or pretending to) but we're a country with vast natural resources and a robust economy. We've never taken a recession/depression as hard as anyone else because of that. If anything, the IMF is using us as an example for how to get Spain, Portugal, etc. back in line. Our banking system is the model of the world, and our government has been implementing minor austerity measures over the past 4 years to ensure it continues running smoothly.

I'm starting to wonder if you're a Canadian at all.

Ed B

That's a great point. Let me preface my comment with, "I'm an American and I have no idea what Quebec's true situation is so, I'll keep my opinion light.

I think before we start railing on Canadians as being "entitled" or "socialist", we should consider how much they have been taxed to support these programs. If they are indeed getting the hell taxed out of them to subsidize education, medicine and other stuff, and the government is asking for more, I can see why they are upset.

For reference, I pay roughly a 13% sales tax on most goods and 20% income tax. Obviously that's more than what you'd be paying, but we also don't have "capitalism gone wild" university expenses (tuition's generally around $5,000 per year) like say Harvard. Quebec has always had lower tuition rates than the other provinces due to subsidization (and they also pay higher sales tax), so this is a shock as their reality changes.

Most years, the Canada Social Transfer portion of taxes (which covers post-secondary education), includes about 3 1/2 cents per dollar. Not a large amount of a persons taxes actually go to this program, which also includes other "social programs".

Wait D Gerrow, I'm an American and I pay nearly 9% sales tax and 48% income tax (34% Federal, 9% State, 5% City). I pay $7K a year to have a health plan that has a $5K deductible and covers 60% of "certain" medical costs. My education cost $200K and I had to pay for it all by myself by working my rear off during and after college and grad school. I get absolutely nothing in return for all of my taxes, and now my government is telling me I need to pay more (my "fair share")... Canada sounds like a good deal to me!

D Gerrow can't be making much money. I pay 45% income tax + sales tax GST 5% + PST 9.5%.

And the provincial PST charges tax on the federal tax.

Still I wouldn't trade it for the US system. Never.

As with the US, the total tax burden varies across provinces (states). On an average, i believe the total we pay when you add everything together is only marginally more than the average for the US citizen. There are UN reports highlighting the #'s.

In response to some of the comments further above, yes the tuition rates are held lower by government spending on post secondary institutions, however this has lead to the highest(?) rate of post secondary in the G8. Which, I wont complain about.

With regards to universal health care and adding private as well someone above commented that its proof this was a failed experiment... I don't really know where your getting your information, but our average life expectancy is a bit longer then our southern neighbors because of it (1yr or so). It allows everyone to get access. The addition of some private in Canada, is not intended to supplant the single payer, but to reduce the load on it by essentially allowing the individuals with large amounts of cash to shell it out twice. (taxes + what they pay to use the private system) This methodology is not groundbreaking, as some of the Scandinavian countries started experimenting with it long before we did, and if i recall it was successful in reducing costs.

No system is perfect, change doesnt always equate to failure

And this current problem has nothing to do with the socialist aspects of Canada, it's the the result of extremist conservatives trying to privatize everything in sight...exactly the same as here in the US.

GOP-hater: so....let me get this straight---you're comparing Detroit to other places in Canada? Really? One of the worst cities in the US is your base of comparison? You're obviously not been around the world or studied history....and probably one of those anti-America, Hate America, 99% demonstrators. Your ignorance, my friend, is what's wrong, here. Study up...keep an open mind...and try to debate based on the facts..not how you 'feel' about things. (Let me predict: you're going to reply with name calling and silly accusations)

We should really note that several posters refer to the "socialist" nature of the Canadian government based on the high tax rate and the government subsidizing eduation. Socialism refers to a political structure in which the government controls the means of production. High tax rates and government subsidies really refers more to a redistribution of wealth or communist structure; "from each according to his means, to each according to his need".

so I guess America and Canada have comparable crime rates when you look at the big picture huh Mr Mark Anthony

You're comparing Detroit to cities in Canada?

Yes, he's comparing Detroit to Windsor, ON to point out that a mere few miles, and an international border, can make a world of difference. Why is Detroit like it is and Windsor like it is? Because at the state and national level in the U.S., no one gives a rat's patoot about Detroit or its people. On the other hand, it would appear that at a province and national level, there is concern for Windsor and other cities in Canada. It's all about attitudes.

dman...but he could do the same by comparing Detroit to another local US city that is not nearly as bad as Detroit. He is implying that the boarder between us marks a magical line where everything is better on the other side. It doesn't paint that same picture if he compares Detroit to other successfull local US cities and towns.

oooooh....look at all the slicky slicky right wing neocons zapping away at college students whose parents are paying for their kids to get an education...Note how these slicky slickies wear those pasted on smug expressions all while they are the ones helping themselves to what remains of your paychecks?

Note how these slicky slickies of the right conservatism always spend your money...never theirs" Does any college professor need to teach 6 hours a week and earn $200,000 a year plus a new home and a new SUV? Those kinds of salaries should come out of tuitions. They shouldn't come out of property taxes jacked so high no one can afford to own a home much less property.

But the sicky slicky slickies of neoconservatism all want you to believe they became wealth ALL BY THEMSELVES. Are they serious? When they stiffed their employees for decades and then helped themselves to as much of the landfill of tax breaks as their higher than high salaries could "entitle" them"? Oooops...Forgot. That word "entitlement" is their favorite verdict on the Middle Class they believe are criminals for actually having the nerve to expect to get what we paid for. But that IS what these swindlers do isn't it to amass all their moolah? Make people pay and then welsh on their responsibility to reciprocate honestly?

ewent-

You are delusional. Keep believing your own nonsense. BTW, stop with the "us and them" stuff. The way I see it from your posts, it's you and everyone else.

What is it exactly that you have paid for and are not getting? And don't give me some talking point crap, give me examples of what you think you personally are being cheated out of.

Not likely, college fees are higher here.

How are professors there getting over $100,000 a year for teaching two classes, when they're not paid in dollars?

Once again, according to some posters here, nothing is ever wrong with the system, its the protesters and their sense of "entitlement".

Because once again it is the protestors who do not want to pay for their education!

The protests had begun to flag around that time because Premier Jean Charest's government appeared unwilling to back off the $1,582 (over five years -- or about $316 per annum) in planned hikes from the current $2,110 tuition, or to offer significant concessions, Ancelovici said.

They are protesting because their tuition is going from $2110 to $2426 per year - a rise of $316 per year. It is their education and the cost has risen so someone has to pay it, So the logical assumption is that the person getting the benefit pays for it.

Ranman87

How are professors there getting over $100,000 a year for teaching two classes, when they're not paid in dollars?

What on earth do you think they are paid in?

Ross...It's worse than you think. US colleges are so tied to corporations and Big Money, it's sickening. I saw first hand how many hour some state college professors were teaching...a total of 6. They don't even plan the course of study...2 expensive assistant professors each with 2 undergrad assistants do.

I'll give you an example of how politics plays out in NJ. Rutgers has a campus in south Jersey. There is also a college that once was known as "Glassboro" until Mr. Big Bucks Rowan donated a few hundred million to the college. Now, Governor Christie pushed for a merger between Rowan (formerly Glassboro) and the Rutgers with the demand that Rowan, not Rutgers maintain the name identity.

See what big bucks buys these days? One Governor who no doubt is a larger recipient of Mr. Big Bucks Rowan's campaign donations, one push to make Rowan the name State University (fat chance since Rutgers and Princeton are already too well known and one domineering little old coot with a lot of money shoving his name down the throats of the parents and students who are paying obnoxious tuitions.

When you consider the big bucks these universities and colleges in the US take in just in corporate subsidies alone, you see why corporations are so hot to get taxpayer subsidies for themselves. They spend your money on their favorite special interests. Is that what tax dollars are for these days? Keeping the ledgers of corporations balanced with all manner of destructive tax breaks?

So, you pay for the corporate tax subsidies and pay again for the cost of tuitions that pay obscene salaries. Double dipping? You bet.

Way higher. After the increase 7 years from now, tuition will be about $3600.00 US per year even for ivy league McGill. How much is Harvard? $50,000.00 a year?

1 dollar Canadian = .97 cents US today

I'll give you an example of how politics plays out in NJ. Rutgers has a campus in south Jersey. There is also a college that once was known as "Glassboro" until Mr. Big Bucks Rowan donated a few hundred million to the college. Now, Governor Christie pushed for a merger between Rowan (formerly Glassboro) and the Rutgers with the demand that Rowan, not Rutgers maintain the name identity

LOL...you are faulting a man for donating money to a college...That is laughable, I suppose you would rather have the government take that money in the form of taxes so that some of it might eventually make it to the college after the govt got thru using its share to buy votes.

Now as far as merging Rowan and Rutgers ...If it will save the taxpayers money then I am all for it, If you have a problem with that then thats your problem....Maybe Rowan will offer dance classes.

Have a hateful day ewent!

$3600 doesn't even cover one semester's tuition at the average public university in the U.S.

The increase is being spread over time so it only amounts to $316 per year? Heaven forbid, those students might need to hang onto their current smartphone a little longer rather than buying the next new one the day it comes out!

Time to grow up and learn some personal responsibility kiddies.

When you decide to go to college, you also decide you are either able to pay for it or need to take a loan out to pay for it. Yes, tuitions have gone up, but have you noticed that everything has gone up in price! Who do they expect to pay for their tuition? Government taxpayers? If you can't pay for it, get a job until you can. Be responsible. Be an adult. Past generations did it without demonstrating in the streets expecting others to coddle them. Another demonstration of the entitlement generation.

Even if people are against the students protesting themselves, people with any love of freedom of expression should be up in arms of fines up to $100,000 for protesting. That's insane, and should never be tolerated by the citizenry.

While I will concede that the fines are a bit steep there has to be a valid reason for protesting for one to be considered protesting for freedom, Their reason for the initial protests is not valid, Their education is costing more and their government is losing money subsidizing it so someone has to pay for it, The logical person would realize that the person receiving the education should be the one to pay for it and looking at what they are currently paying and what the tuition raise is I do not see this as a valid reason.

It's really up to you to decide what is or is not a valid reason to protest, is it? Are you the protest police?

The $100K fine is for the organization initiating the march. Fines for individuals are much lower.

All they have to do to avoid fines is give 8 hrs notice , and leave their masks at home.

And maybe they can bend over and smile, too? Freedom is great, except for those dumb enough to actually use freedom. Assad in Syria is big on rules for demonstrations too, and we've seen how that's playing out.

I'm sure you know a lot about life in Quebec, so many informed opinions here. I'm sure these 150k people will be branded for life just as soon as anyone figures out who they are

Smart companies will be using face recognition software on the tv footage of the protests and collating the results with potential applicants. Perhaps another reason why they wear masks.

Work around a few PhDs as I have and you see the educatorati snobbery clearly. It's a freaking degree...not an "entitlement to obscene wealth. These trough feeders love to make it appear that the higher their degree, the more money they must be handed. Sure...if you actually DO WORK for that money. Not if you teach 6 hours a week, cost taxpayers extra for 2 assistant professors and 2 assistants to the assistant professors.

That template was tried over and over again in NJ's public school system. Now, we pay taxes not only for 2 or 3 teachers' aides who do the work the teacher should be doing but claims they have no time because 20 students in a class is not their desired ratio but 1:1 is more to their liking and then, we get to pay lunchtime aides to monitor the lunch rooms and food service staff.

Try paying over $3800 of your under $50,000 salary just because you saved enough to own a home in NJ and see why there is so much anger at too highly paid college professors. They pound salt in the wounds by taking a job as a head football coach for a year or two and get free housing and vehicles and then take all of their lifetime benefits with them after working only 2 years.

A tenured prof with 5 years to retirement makes about $100,000 in Quebec

Ewent, you don't have a real good idea of how university salaries and benefits work. Some very senior people do make >$100K/yr, but we're talking a double handful out of the whole bunch. I understand that you have a LOT of resentment percolating there, but most university faculty spent 6-8 years getting a terminal degree after undergraduate study. I guess they might be worth more than minimum wage, yes?

You may start spitting now.

It is shamefull that defending democracy falls to people that are just coming out of the servitude of being kids

Servitude of being kids...You are kidding right...These kids are protesting because they want the people who actually work for a living to subsidize their educations, If anything the people who are sitting quietly by working everyday and paying their taxes are the ones in servitude to pay for the free ride of these kids.

LOL...servitude of kids...lol...thats a good one...I can't stop laughing except I have to because people like you are serious and think the world owes you everything.

Reality check...if you want an education then you have to pay for it and not expect someone else to pick up the tab.

"Servitude of being kids"? What the hell does that mean?

By the time you hit college, you really aren't considered a "kid" anymore (unless you do something stupid and break the law, then, suddenly, everyone screams that you're "just a kid!") but young adults getting ready to enter the real world. They want all the rights and priviliges - and none of the responsibility. "I should be able to drink at 18! I should be able to smoke if I want to!" But when the bill comes due - a car accident where someone is badly hurt or killed because of the drinking, cancer because of the smoking - then it's always "Someone should have stopped me! Why didn't anyone stop me?!" Why? Because you had freedom of choice, exercised it, and now the penalty you incurred is on you. Prime example: A former co-worker who was 18 when she started here smoked like a fiend; a pack a day or more. She was diagnosed late last year with breast and ovarian cancer, and her first response was, "How could this have happened??"

And then she lit a cigarette...

By the time anyone heads to college or even just graduates high school, declaring him/herself an adult and demanding the "freedoms" that go with adulthood, it's time to STOP thinking of them as kids and start making them live with the responsibility of actually BEING an adult.

You mean those people quietly working to pay for these kids' educations, who ALSO had subsidized educations that someone else paid for? This type of system stops working when the politicians in charge forget where they came from and what they're working towards. They ran into a lack of funding, and what did they do? Instead of making hard choices and making cuts to bloated systems, they decided students should pick up the bill. We here in the US should know better than anybody what happens when tuition rates start rising; they don't ever stop going up. Tuition rates in our country are now going up YEARLY. Are these colleges admitting more students? Nope. They're hiring directors of this or that, paying professors in excess off $200,000 a year, and allowing a corporate takeover of their campuses. Nearly 70% of college courses today are taught by non-tenured, part-time faculty or graduate students. So basically, the price of college skyrockets while the quality of education one receives has steadily declined. Anyway, enough of my ranting about the broken education system, but Americans need to stop judging these Canadian students. They have a better system than us, don't be jealous and hateful, because if you had been promised something your whole life and made to believe it was your "right", you'd probably be protesting too. Or probably not. At some point Americans decided protesting for your rights was only for "hippies", because it's obvious that forming hate-filled, gun-toting private militias is the more prudent way to get your point across.

I'm guessing you were never strong enough as a young person to believe in anything beyond what your parents told you and feel the need to lash out at those you perceive to be rising above their station. How dare these people have opinions and let them be known. If they just kept their heads down and "worked hard" like you social panacea would commence because everyone knows we live in fair societies in the west where those who work are never taken advantage of by the wealthy and politicians. There is simply no need to show discontent as everyone is doing their best to make society a better place for all. lmao

I'm guessing you were never strong enough as a young person to believe in anything beyond what your parents told you and feel the need to lash out at those you perceive to be rising above their station. How dare these people have opinions and let them be known

Why is it always those who contribute the least and expect the most feel they have to protest when someone asks them to pay a part of their fair share, These protesters are acting like children throwing violent temper tandrums when they do not get what they think that they are entitled too.

Did you include the high taxes that they would be paying? Do you know the average tax rate in Quebec? Quebecois pay higher taxes by choice so the government can subsidize things like this. Once you graduate from university, you get a job and pay higher taxes to subsidize the current university students. See how that works?

Personally, I do feel that a 100 day protest is a bit of an overreaction, but perhaps my apathy is part of the problem here in the States, where every day I here about some new attempt to legislate away some right or another. I don't go out and protest because I'm afraid to lose my job and have to go on the dole and be called a leech by those who silently allow their rights to be slowly corroded.

Anyways, I'm done with the rant.

That's one way of looking at it; another way is that if we educate students and keep their tuition low (subsidized by taxpayers of course), they graduate and find good paying jobs in society, and then end up becoming taxpayers that subsidize others to go to university (which, as we're all reminded every day, are what all the good paying jobs of the future are going to require).

It's pushing the cost of education onto the taxpayers who can afford it vs. onto the students who make minimum wage. In other words, their future selves will pay retroactively for the tuition they couldn't afford in the past.

D Gerrow: pumping out tons of degrees will do one of two things: either drive down the value of the degree, meaning lower paying jobs for those degrees, which shoots your argument in the foot; or it drives up the cost of labor for the employers, who then either go with fewer employees, or go where the workforce costs less, resulting in NO jobs for these people.

Making the people who are going to school ( or their families ) pay, ensures we don't have a bunch of useless degrees sitting on unemployment. If someone is going to pay for their education, they should make sure it will pay for itself when they get out.

They have no solutions-When the money that the goverement pays for the free stuff runs out you have one of several choices. Raise Taxes on everyone so the few can benefit. Have the additional cost be paid by the people using the service. Cut out all free stuff and you pay for what you want. Go back to the stone age.

Nothing is free- someone has to pay. I guess the cllege students just have not learned that yet at 20 years old. Most used to learn the reality of the world in grade school. Not anymore.

Wow. The people of Quebec pay the highest tax rates in all of Canada. Part of the reason for that is many services (including education) are subsidized and they've all AGREED to that by choosing to live there. The issue here is that their tuition is rising too quickly and essentially doubling over the next 7 years.

You know, you'd think for people with vocal opinions of matters that don't concern them you'd do a little digging into the actual issues before opening your mouth. Quebec has one of the strongest economies in Canada, so to call them a bunch of liberals that think money grows on trees only shows how little you actually know about them.