Defiance from student leaders

By Sylvain Comeau

"The question is whether the government is listening. Well, when you consider that they're perfectly willing to force students into heavy debt by cutting loans and bursaries, it's clear that they simply don't care about youth. Anything else they say is just PR."

Against a backdrop of news reports of daily, sometimes disruptive and violent student protests, Féderation des étudiants universitaires du Québec (FEUQ) president Pier-André Bouchard opened a Concordia panel held March 22 on access to education by blasting apparent Quebec government apathy concerning the future leaders of this province.

"The most flagrant case is the loans and bursaries issue, but there are less well known examples, such as in the public service. The government has been reducing its workforce by attrition; they wait for people to retire, and then they replace just one out of two. The government is one of the biggest employers in Quebec; what are they telling young people when they refuse to hire many of us?"

Bouchard predicted that government apathy will spark the opposite reaction among disaffected youth.

"Youth don't vote right now — only 1 in 4 go to the ballot box — but if we keep taking body blows like we have lately, I think we will go out and vote, and tell the government that they just can't do this to us."

Arielle Reid, vice-president external for the Concordia Student Union, agreed. "The voices of students are not being heard; it's been a while since people took youth issues very seriously. The Charest government has played a dirty trick on us.”

She said youth today are less involved in politics than in the past because of a feeling of isolation.

"It's important to get away from the ivory tower syndrome; we need to bring that ivory tower down to a workable level. We must infiltrate the youth wings of political parties and lobby groups. Even organizations like religious groups can be politicized. That's because everything we do is political, from the clothes we wear to the food we eat, not just how we vote."

Action Democratique du Quebec (ADQ) member Caroline Morgan said that much of the apparent neglect of youth comes down to cold, hard numbers.

"Youth are suffering from a numerical disadvantage vis a vis the baby boomers, in addition to a looming debt load which will be a greater and greater burden. I think the pressure on youth can be seen in such issues as suicide among youth, which is an alarming problem in Quebec, and the worst in Canada."

She urged youth to look for a brand of political activism which fits into their passions and their lives.

"We have to fight where we feel the most comfortable; you're never more convincing than when you're most convinced. It's true that in recent years, youth have been getting increasingly apathetic about politics, but that is where decisions are made. That is where you will make the most impact."

The panel was organized by students of the School of Community and Public Affairs.

Editor’s note: The Concordia Student Union held an informal meeting yesterday to discuss the issue. A deal has been worked out between Education Minister Jean-Marc Fournier and student federations. It would see $482 million invested in Quebec’s bursary program over five years, but only $70 million of that amount next year. The $103 million bursary program will be re-established by 2006-07.