If Canadians still harbour suspicions that Quebec is not in fact a “distinct society,” the ongoing student strikes in that province, and the provincial government’s reaction to them, may have put those doubts to rest. After many years of university tuition freezes, the governing provincial Liberals proposed a modest increase of $325 per year — about 34 hours of untaxed minimum-wage labour — for five years, to a total yearly tuition of $3,793. As proponents correctly pointed out, Quebec is in somewhat dire financial straits. Its universities need the money. Financial assistance already is available for low-income students. And besides, $3,793 is 30% less than the national average tuition this year, never mind in 2017.
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