100 days

live.montrealgazette.com

Yesterday marked 100 days of the student protests here in Montreal.  It's really quite amazing that it has gone on for so long and neither side is willing to back down and after so long it would be a terrible loss of face to do so.  There has been a massive toll to the city and the province of Quebec - businesses down town are suffering with people not heading out - especially at night, bad rush hour traffic has become unpredictable and insane, vandalism, serious injury to police and protesters and the Education Minister resigned.  There are now great concerns for the summer festivals that Montreal is famous for.

I'm sure glad we don't live closer to the city as the disruptions and night marches have become downright scary.

In the end only about 30% of students are still on strike but of those who aren't some have to had to take court injunctions to be able to get back into class and even then protesting blockades didn't allow them through.  To try and calm things down the city brought in a law to ban wearing masks during protests and the provincial government created a new law limiting the right to congregate and protest without major limitations.  Of course this went down like a lead balloon and yesterday around 150,000 people came out to mark 100 days and vent their anger about the new laws.

live.montrealgazette.com

There are serious calls for free higher education and if you pay around 51% income tax I can see why you'd feel entitled.  Everyone is waiting for the tipping point because surely this can't go on for much longer...