Hundreds of students gathered today (23) at Square Phillips, in Montreal, Canada, to protest against the tax adjustment measures adopted by the government of the province of Quebec. The demonstration, which began around 11:30 a.m. local time, ended in less than an hour, after a quick confrontation between students and police. Some of them were arrested.

The demonstration took place on the same day that several student associations organized to declare a social strike and take a stand against the government’s bill which cuts public sector spending, particularly in university budgets. An estimated 60,000 students joined the strike.

“Since the start of the year, the Liberal Party has made massive cuts to education, health and the environment. This is why we took to the streets; because it hits us directly. In general, we want to denounce the direction the government is taking,” explained Camille Godbout, spokesperson for the Association for Union and Student Solidarity, one of the organizers of the movement.

According to the association, the government is expected to impose cuts of around 635 million reais for universities within two years. Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard declared that “future generations will benefit from the tax package.”

The plan also calls for the elimination of more than a thousand vacant civil service positions this year and next year. The measures are part of the program known as austerity, which the government says aims to avoid a deficit of 14.7 billion reais this year and 18.3 billion reais next year.

For Victor Silvestrin, 24, an urban planning student at the University of Montreal, mobilization is important. “We need to step up because, number one, as students, we see a decrease in money going to universities, to education. »

Second, says Silvestrin, as citizens. “I am concerned to see other citizens benefiting from fewer social benefits, reduced access to education and health. And, as a future urban planner, because if I want to create interesting places to live, we cannot have a divided population. »

The students’ take to the streets reminded Montrealers of a union-backed March 2012 strike known as the Maple Spring, in reference to the leaf of Canada’s characteristic tree. On this occasion, thousands of people took to the streets during 1,370 demonstrations organized between February and September.

This year, so far, the unions have not joined the student movement, within which there are divisions. The 1.625 Foundation, an organization created to raise funds to help students, opposes the strikers, defending the rights of those who wish to attend classes and accusing the strike of being illegal.

“The registered student, and having paid his registration fees, maintains a contractual relationship with the educational establishment. Any person who prevents a student from attending classes, by blocking or picketing, is acting illegally,” the organization declares in its website.

A large demonstration is being prepared for April 2.