TORONTO

Ontario students are planning to take to the streets in solidarity with the students on strike in Quebec.

A group of students and staff confirmed Friday at a Queen’s Park news conference that a rally is planned for June 5.

“The most important thing we can do in Ontario to support the struggle in Quebec is to bring the spirit of democracy and activism into the province of Ontario,” said student and activist Xavier Lafrance. “The spirit is in the air. Mr. McGuinty needs to be aware that it can and will happen in Ontario.”

Calling the planned rally the “beginning in Ontario,” Sandy Hudson, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students – Ontario, said the group is expecting to “build a movement and have capacity.”

Students in Quebec have been protesting for 103 days. Violent clashes between police and protestors have been reported, with over 2,500 arrests made so far.

Last week the Quebec government passed an emergency law to try and restrict protestors, known as “Bill 78.”

When questioned as to whether students in Ontario would directly follow the actions of protestors in Quebec, Hudson denounced the government’s violence and stated that the hope is for the government of Ontario to listen to students.

“I think that a government that wants to respect its people wouldn’t react that way,” said Hudson.

The establishment of a Student Solidarity Network in Ontario was also announced. The network, created Thursday night by a group of student, faculty and community activists, supports the fight Quebec students are taking against tuition hikes and “condemns the oppressive laws” the Quebec government has set in place towards the protest.

The group is calling out to Ontario’s provincial government to lower tuition costs, stating that since 2006 fees have raised by as much as 71%. In comparison, they pointed to the fact that Quebec’s students are opposing a 75% tuition hike.

“We have to turn back what has happened here in Ontario,” said Hudson. “Ontario’s terrible record on post-secondary education cannot be the benchmark for Quebec.”

The network proposes the government of Ontario’s first step be a 30% reduction in tuition costs “across the board” for all post-secondary students in Ontario – but stressed that continued action would be needed.

“In a perfect world post-secondary education in Ontario would be fully funded by the government,” said Hudson.