Tens of Thousands Rally in Quebec Against Tuition Increases

Tens of thousands are hitting the streets in the province of Quebec today in what is reported to be the biggest protest yet. Protesters are fighting university tuition increases.

The protests today are a follow-up to weeks of protests.

Tweets from Montreal indicate their numbers may be 200,000 or more while Concordia University Television said the number was about 300,000.

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The Canadian Press: Thousands of students gather in Montreal for rally

MONTREAL -- In a spring of constant protest in Quebec, this one could be the biggest of all.

Tens of thousands of students across the province are taking to the streets today in what is billed as the largest demonstration yet against university tuition increases.

The largest rally is set for Montreal, home to most of the province's major universities.

Thousands of students are gathered and preparing for a massive demonstration downtown this afternoon.

There are also plans to block access to the Universite de Montreal's music faculty.

The protest comes two days after the provincial budget and a blunt refusal by Premier Jean Charest's government to back down on the hikes.

The province is nearly doubling tuition fees over five years, to about $3,800.

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Postmedia News: Thousands protest tuition increases in Montreal

MONTREAL -- Tens of thousands of activists have filled Montreal's downtown core at this hour to protest tuition increases.

Students demonstrating Thursday in Montreal and across the province, say higher fees mean higher debt for them and their parents.

The protesters reject the government's position that student aid, offered to about 35 per cent of students and based on a system of loans, will ease the debt burden.

The Port of Montreal was one of the sites targeted during the initial hours of what is expected to be a tumultuous day of protest.

Concordia University Television in Montreal is livestreaming the event: