After the failure of the negotiations, the social crisis bogged down and worsened in Quebec. According to Christian Nadeau, professor at the University of Montreal, the conflict goes beyond the academic field: it involves a real societal choice and profoundly disrupts Quebec political life. The exceptional measures promulgated by the government reveal the pressures weighing on social democracy today and the need to defend it.
Christian Nadeau recalls what the current social movement in Quebec owes to the students’ struggle, whose precise objectives we must not lose sight of. Quebec students went on strike at the end of February to protest an unprecedented increase in tuition fees (a 75% increase over 5 years). Faced with a movement that has continued to grow, the government led by Jean Charest (Quebec Liberal Party) had a special law adopted in May (the “ law 78 “) which has two parts: it establishes the terms and conditions for the resumption of classes, and contains provisions to restrict and regulate student movements – thus bringing significant limitations to the right of demonstration and association.
Christian Nadeau, professor in the philosophy department of the University of Montreal, returns to the origins of this conflict and analyzes its consequences on Quebec political life.
Shooting, editing and subtitling: A. Suhamy