Riots struck today in Montreal as
students and unions attacked a conference of business and political
leaders discussing Plan Nord. While this is seen as part of an extended
battle against tuition increases, the target picked by the thousands of
protestors was deliberately chosen for its platform of
industrial-capitalist development.
From the Financial Post
Plan Nord is the Liberal government’s
development plan for its northern territory that is aiming to lead to
$80-billion in investments and 20,000 in new or consolidated jobs
annually over 25 years. The effort is being likened to Quebec’s massive
development of the James Bay and La Manicouagan hydroelectric projects
in the 1960s and 1970s.
Ian Lafrenière, spokesman for the Montreal Police, said eight people were arrested and two were hurt.
“This is no longer a peaceful demonstration,” he said, suggesting a group of radical demonstrators had joined students.
Mr. Charest inexplicably joked about the protest, alluding to the events outside only briefly in his speech.
“The [Plan Nord] represents a chance for
job seekers,” he said to howls of laughter from the audience. “And so
to those who knocked on our door this morning, we could offer them a
job, in the North as much as possible.”
The Caisse has said it is interested in
financing infrastructure development as part of the Plan Nord. It is
currently working with Canadian National Railway Co. on an estimated
$5-billion project to build a new 800-km railway stretching from
Sept-Îles north past Shefferville into the Labrador Mining Trough. The
partners need firm transport commitments from mining companies before
they can proceed.
Students are protesting the government’s
plan to raise tuition fees by $325 a year over five years. Even with
the increases, the cost of education in Quebec will be among the lowest
in the country.
--video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_0sXnxKmIM&feature=player_embedded
Iscriviti a:
Commenti sul post (Atom)
Nessun commento:
Posta un commento