Formula 1′s visit to Bahrain was not greatly disrupted by protesters, but there are beginning to be fears that the sport could run into trouble later this summer in Montreal. For the last 11 weeks students in the city have been protesting about the raising of tuition fees and in recent days the action has been getting rather nastier with protesters hurling projectiles at police. A total of 85 people were arrested in the course of Wednesday night. The protesters have disrupted the city’s Metro system by throwing smoke bombs in stations, forcing evacuations and major delays. The Metro is vital for the Grand Prix in Montreal as the majority of spectators travel to the Ile de Notre Dame using the system. There is still six weeks to go before the Canadian event, but the school years ends shortly and so it remains to be seen whether the students will stick around or will go off on holiday…
The problem is surely that now Ecclestone and Todt have successfully turned F1 into a political, pro-government entity, the risk is others will see an opportunity to publicise their cause.
I understand the student protests are quite popular, since they may be about tuition fees on the face of it, they represent a general discontent with other government policy and perceived capitalisation of Quebec society in general.
I see likewise (Flavio’s first paragraph).
for sure they would have prefered that the whole thing just went smooth as silk. the slogan utilizing “F1″ name should have gone unnoticed, even in Bahrain – it was down to business partnerships after all, between the pair and that country.
in these times of web spread instant information, they look like two mamooths caught by a freak storm while pasturing in the spring.
I bet we’re going to see more trouble of the kind in the medium term. just as an example, right now kuala lumpur is showing some potential, but will depend on the timing of the situations along with F1 dates.
things in the background have changed that mr. E. didnt expect to happen, and I dont think it will change back.
Is this some sort of sick joke? The inference is in very bad taste!!! No suggestion has been made by anyone representing the students that F1 is a target.
I am merely pointing out what is happening in Canada. Did I say that it would affect the GP?
In fairness to the reader, the post says “there are beginning to be fears that the sport could run into trouble” and that the Metro is “vital” to the rest. I don’t wish to draw an argument (this is not akin to Bahrain), but it’s not unreasonable for the reader to conclude someone has concerns about this news affecting the race.
Joe,
Will sections of the media be sent earlier to the Grand Prix in order to report on the protestors? If so, I look forward to reports from them of armoured cars lining the Grand Prix route
With such civil unrest and the fact that Quebec still breach the human rights act with regard to English speakers, and the ever present danger to F1 personnel and the media, I’m sure all those Bahrain band wagon jumpers will be calling for the Canadian Grand Prix to be scrapped … What, they’re not?
Damn. WE had a discussion in Bahrain and concluded that the only race that could go ahead on the basis of human rights was Canada!
F1 back to Mosport, then?
That would be a dream come true. I could practically walk there.
A-P… None of them are man enough to run turn 1, or The Hump at Saint-Jovite wide open.
Joe, it sounds like the Mole’s grandchildren reside in my Belle Province.
While most students are all up in arms, the recent nightly “riots” are primarily due to one group: La Classe (The Class). They are refusing to call for a stop to vandalism and violence (quite minor on the world scale (Spain, Greece, etc.) and the Government is accepting to talk to them, having asked for the concession. The other two student groups have renounced, but in solidarity with La Classe, have stopped ‘negotiating’.
Perhaps it’s time for random selective military service for students not actively attending class.
And finally, when do the Audience in Montréal posters go up? Can I get ticket number 45?
See, I TOLD you the reality was more nuanced!
Really? They raised tuition fees for university. They will still be the lowest in Canada. The amoount that protesters were receiving in tickets for blocking traffic from the police was more than the increase in tuition.
As far as speaking English in Quebec especially Montreal, you will only be offended if you choose to be. In the smaller towns in the province it is possible you will to work a little harder to make yourself understood. In the big cities this is not the case.
karen, are you referring to commercial signs that under provincial law can be bilingual, French only, but not English only?
My guess is that she doesn’t know precisely what she is referring to, since, for a start, there is no such thing as the ‘human rights act’ in Canada…
Um… you mean apart from the Canadian Human Rights Act?
Oops, brain fade… I was thinking the reference had misnamed the Charter, but you’re probably right.
That’s actually IS what passes for human rights abuses here in Canada, public signage.
I don’t know what’s up in Canada, but I do know you comment is pleasantly funny!
The UN says:
” The language restriction violates article 19(2) of the International Covenant … If you thought that freedom of expression was taken for granted in civilized countries you were wrong: free expression is suppressed in the Canadian Province of Quebec.”
Of course, that is provincial rather than federal legislation. As is the tuition fee proposal to which the current protesters are objecting.
Which is all to say, we can solve all this by simply moving the race back to Mosport!
Cute comment. But it could just be that the difference between the governments of Quebec and Bahrain is obvious to anyone with common sense.
Yeah, when the Montreal authorities start firing live ammunition and locking up and torturing medics who treated the injured, then maybe F1 should look at calling it off.
Having said that, tear gas, baton rounds and concussion grenades doesn’t sound very good.
Hey Joe,
We may have to ask to cancel the Grand Prix. Its too dangerous to go there….. The students might use formula one a political platform….. Maybe we shall ask the BBC to report on the protest of Montreal….. Let’s go racing.
I agree
You are all just worried that it rains again and the ornithology and Beyoncé spotting lesson to follow!
@thejudge13
Is this some sort of sick joke? The inference is in very bad taste!!! No suggestion has been made by anyone representing the students that F1 is a target.
on April 27, 2012 at 09:23 | Reply Joe Saward
I am merely pointing out what is happening in Canada. Did I say that it would affect the GP?
Sorry I forgot you were an F1 reporter. I’m sorry but I find your response flippant and juvenile. Maybe you’ve not had your morning chai latte
Yes, I am a Formula 1 reporter and a grown up too. The reply was not flippant. It was factual.
And I don’t even know what a chai latte is. (Thank God). So calm down and think about things in a more rational manner and I am sure you will see that your original post was an overreaction.
Chai is a spice tea originating from India. With milk it’s pretty good. Worth a try….
maybe Joe can persuade the Sheikh of Bahrain to host a second race this year in place of Canada
There are rather a lot of sheikhs in Bahrain, in case you did not realize.
think your response to thejudge13 is facile when in your article you say
“protesters hurling projectiles at police….85 arrested….Metro disrupted…Metro important for F1 event….6 weeks only till F1 arrives…..
Maybe if your worried, you could try Starbuck’s 5th Ave, N.Y. as your base for reporting the event. A very ecclectic clinetiel there I believe.
Just reporting on what happens. Do you deny this is happening? I am not bothered at all. And Starbucks is not my favourite coffee shop either.
Just did a very basic search, and got police in full riot gear firing tear gas, baton rounds and using other chemical irritants (?), and eventually using concussion grenades on the protesters.
Premier Jean Charest said:
“We have had ministers find tanks of gas on their verandas… Molotov cocktails in front of their offices … There are ministers who have had death threats,”
I can’t wait to read the ‘soaraway’ Sun and the Daily ‘Heil’ tomorrow, quoting the UK Labour party calling for the Canadian GP to be cancelled, drivers to boycott the race and sponsors to withdraw their support.
Although I won’t hold my breath, as that might be a bandwagon too far for some
Again, very cute. Ana as a lampoon of some of theover-the-top press coverage of Bahrain, very apt. But as an argument that the GP in Bahrain was a perfectly sound idea, it’s either extremely naive (which I asume you are not) or utterly disingeuous.
@Peter
I presume you and many others are not naive also, and you of course fully know that the Bahrain opposition party (Al Wefaq) and the protesters want Bahrain to revert back to pre-2002 laws, in as much as they want to reverse the granting of the vote for women, and remove the right for women to stand for election.
After pressure from protesters and Al Wefaq, no women were elected to the upper house (The Shura), However 6 women were appointed there by the King himself.
It’s a shame that so many people hate women so much that they’ll support violent protest in order to keep them subjugated!
Either that or they read the Sun and the Daily ‘Heil’.
Karen, a lot of protesters are not Al Wefaq. And a lot of protesters are not violent. For that matter, Al Wefaq’s platform is peaceful protest. (That doesn’t mean one agrees with them on other aspects.) It does not follow that the violent protesters “hate women” and want them subjugated.
Many women regardless of any particular political affiliation are very active in protesting the government’s lack of reforms. A particular sore spot is the basic area of family law as it is interpretive and depends on whether you’re Sunni or Shia, a real mess. Women, as well as men, can’t have been too pleased either with the crackdowns since February 2011 and the subsequent arrests, jail sentences and human rights abuses that continue to affect their families.
… And a lot are Al Wefaq, and judging by the tabloid coverage a lot are violent.
The government made the reforms to include women in government and provide the vote, the protesters and Al Wefaq want this reversed.
The government will no doubt make more reforms, albeit too slowly, but no doubt the regressionists will continue to oppose them.
Will the sudents actually be up in time for the race anyway?
When you meet with the locals for your blog piece on the affairs in Montreal, remember that you must got to Tim Horton’s. That’s Canada’s choice of coffee shop.
I hope these disturbances don’t affect the price of poutine.
Please note a comment I have made elsewhere.
There is definitely a lot more ‘hot spots’ at night in Montreal than Bahrain
I expect more than a few teams will skip FP2 so they can start throwing down the cocktails earlier !
No need to leave early… Wanda’s and Chez Paré are open until 3. Schwatz’s does close a bit earlier, but now that it belongs to the Celine Dion empire, my heart does not go on.
Personally I shall go and sit down in Starbucks with three middle class Canadians to discuss their love of maple syrup and the ruling elite and how these bloody students are always starting trouble against those poor policemen and their riot shields.
I understand Montreal will go ahead under the banner of VilliF1ed…
One nation under Bacon and all that…
What a very silly post. Besides any decent Canadian would go to Tim Horton’s
Only if AuraF1 was buying… and maybe not even then.
I would at the very least expect that the students could demonstrate for free coffee to highlight their cause. Burning tyres has such a less effusive aroma than a good roast blend.
A silly post in this thread??? Heaven forbid!
Ah clearly my Canadian relatives are simply not the right sort…
I am mortiF1ied…
Okay I’ll stop now
Interesting. I’m a Montrealer and Formula One is the one sport I’m passionate about (I do follow a bit of NFL and I am watching a bit of the Stanley Cup playoffs). I was opposed the racing in Bahrain, and dspite the fact that the race came off without a hitch still think it was wrong.
@ karen, the demonstrations here are not about Human Rights, (btw as an anglo in Québec, I in no way feel my rights are threaten by the French). The demonstrations are to protest the hikes to tuition fees for university and paticipants include both french and english students, professors and supporters. It’s not about Human Rights, although now it’s expanded to include police brutality (a claim by Amesty International – although for sure the police are not firing bullets and trying to kill anyone).
The Grand Prix followed by the Jazz Festival are the highlight of my year. I do not see the situation here as serious enough (in ethical terms) to cancel the race. I want to race. But having said that, if the situation is not resolved, my feeling is if the demonstraters wish to dirupt the Grand Prix they certainly well, and it will be a lot more effective than Bahrain. Here we have the ability to cause serious damage and shut down the race. But personally I don’t feel any oppostion to the race (and I’m in support of the students).
I was taking the piss out of the Bahrain bandwagon jumpers, and the tabloid news papers they get their information from … I thought it was quite obvious.
“…I in no way feel my rights are threaten…”
Sure you’re not Francophone, hein?
No, I am an anglo of Chinese descent. I live in a predominately French neighbourhood which is also un-surprisingly supportive of the independence movement here). I have never been made to feel I am unwelcome. There’s a lot of French bashing in the English press here which I feel is unjustified.
Joe , if you wish to learn more about my country and it’s long struggle to unify , I am a member of the English speaking majority , and I would love to sit and sip a coffee with you , away from the turmoil in the city , to discuss whether F1 should come to my country , with it’s repressive regime in power .
I own a coffee house , where we roast only fair trade organic coffee , so you know my integrity is not in question .
I’ll buy .
You will be telling me next that I am responsible for mass murder because my great-grandfather was captain of a ship that sank in the St Lawrence… I am sure there is more turmoil in Montreal when they lose a hockey game. I know I was there and saw it… And thanks for the offer, but I hate organic coffee. It gets people so excited…
Or that my uncle designed ordinance and planned how it was delivered . . . and yet of my family he is the moral compass most missed.
. . I print magazines on only recycled paper, so obviously my politics are beyond reproach. . I am invincible against your moral indictments!! . .
. . have we really descended to such feebleness in our minds? .. and those who have such straw hypotheses of their own self doubtful stature claim to have political worth, as if they can compensate the emptiness of their intellectual souls by token protests at imaginary slights to these imaginary superiorities? I only ask, because that seems the level of debate we have descended into.
Okay, enough of that, I enjoyed the joke, and I am going to use the free trade coffee line on my sales calls, see how often it’s called out! Top stuff! For the record, organic coffee sucks big time in my book, also
Thanks for the reply , Joe .
While I don’t necessarily agree with all you write , I see you as a great source of insight into the world of F1 I have been following for many years . Thank you for that , too .
I obviously touched a nerve here .
I do own a coffee shop , and would love to sit and talk with you .
We have roughly 40 different varieties of tea , all organic , if you prefer .
As it happens , in my opinion , we do have a repressive regime in power . But , that’s an aside .
A good part of the rest of the nation sees the unrest by the students involved , with a cynical eye , as they protest the raising of tuition from what I understand to be the lowest rates in Canada .
It truly is a volatile area right now .
Protesting was peaceful this morning in Montreal , according to reports on CBC .
They are passionate there , about hockey , about tuition , and about sovereignty . There have been ugly battles over them all .
The offer stands , Joe , replacing coffee with tea , and I’d much rather talk about F1 ,than politics .
But, bagwan, can you make us a perfect Chai Latte?
This is what we need to know! Apparently Joe needs one, and if i find out what it is, I’ll hold my nose and take a draft also.
Good luck to your business. I like my green teas, but though people seem to like my coffee, if they see me make it they think twice before drinking again. Colombian Marching Strength, made camp style, throw it in. Does the job, mind you.
If I’m ever your way, I’ll sneakily come in for a hit, promise. But to riff off my recent ranting about websites, yours looks really a generic template. As in I mean it well when I say all this template design is turning everything into cookie cutter sites with no individual style. Freshen it up. Though I have friends selling such design, it really is the same old, same old. And very dated, very very dated. Do not underestimate how long they will keep pitching the old trash. This style was hep like more than 10 years ago. Go bolder.
all best from me, i am honest in that sentiment, and good luck with your store, – john
But it’s made from freshly ground organs!
We actually have quite a bit of turmoil in Montreal when we WIN hockey games too. Go Habs!
where’s your cafe? I’ll drop by.
Time we all grew up, I reckon. Or at least throw some water over the face, freshen up.
TPTB have disconnected so far from human reality in recent years that I cannot think of a place (maybe Monaco?) where there is not disgruntlement simmering for a multitude of reasons.
Albeit these disconnexions are often as not on new and petty tangents. My take is that having evolved sufficient law for most sensible purposes, legislators have simply become hysterical looking for new avenues to proscribe, and forgotten they might simply be there to make existing law function.
When I was a kid, the word was “radical”. Everything was radical, man. Oh, and people were pissed off for all manner of reasons, then, too.
Maybe the problem today is that we don’t have much in the way of ideological debate or engagement of any kind. All I can think of as to politics in the past couple of decades is the immense legislation and encroachment of petty government.
You just get the feeling that everything has been made illegal, or if not explicitly illegal, someone has the power to arbitrarily decide to that effect.Just one example is the copyright business, where thriving companies benefiting from the digital revolution blame imaginary penury and cause immature boys to be arrested and extradited for petty infringements.
In the UK the Civil Contingencies Act effectively put us in a permanent state of police emergency, and yet I have never met anyone in normal walks of life who has heard of it. If you are unaware, you ought to be, because brief study of its function would be a startling eye opener, and cause anyone who is inclined to talk about human rights overseas to entirely re-evaluate their comprehension and possibly start pointing the finger at home, because after all, do we not lead, in diplomacy?
(I recommend without hesitation, visiting statewatch.org, and looking up what I talk about there. If you do not know of what manner of state you are a citizen, I question your ability to usefully engage. Do not excuse yourself because our elected representatives appear largely to have forgone the opportunity to educate themselves. The positive idea is we can help point them to what deserves debate.)
I am about the least politically motivated person I know – though that may sound like a blatant fib, that does not mean i am disinterested in politics. Just I am very unlikely to get bothered for any specific reason, even if it is directly concerned with me. I don’t want to become my very own, therefore very biased and under resourced, special interest group. Even if everyone else does that. But despite my disclaimer, I believe there is more upon which to engage debate than there has been in a very long time, and though I disapprove of protests of all nature, there is clearly a lot worthy of protest in our first world politics. Just not my style to be so obtuse in my argument.
You have to simply consider, that when Canada, stereotyped and even humorously mocked for it’s characteristic placidity, can get its knickers in a twist, there really are serious issues to be dealt with. Clearly this is what Joe means to illustrate. Harking back to the radical 70s, I think everyone was highly politicised then. Then it became uncool to think politically, and eventually I think we all switched off, as the fourth decade of artificial wealth numbed us and made almost everyone blind through fiscal bribery and fiduciary negligence. Time to wake up and sniff the decaf, down the multi fruit smoothie, or snort the high energy drink. Or just rinse the crud from our eyes. Promise you it won’t hurt. (wear shades, dude!) But, if you have been sleeping too long, the new vista might come as a bit of a shock. I would recommend to those who are acting or reacting angrily, that they invest more time in studying the context of how we arrived here. That’s my personal take: I want inquiring minds looking for solutions, not barricades erected mirroring the mental barricades an agitated mind is too often trapped within.
I love your message, but you are asking for people to turn their energies inwards. Not likely to happen, I’d say. To “know thyself” is the hardest knowledge to acquire. Though we would all be better for it.
I hear you, Wisemaker.
I try and fail quite often, myself. All I tilt at is an attempt to see the other side. A balancing exercise. Privately, must confess, it is no fun at all to be thinking like I do, when writing what I just did. I simply think reminding myself is worth the effort, and maybe that counts for someone else occasionally. At least you saw what I was on about!
Too much navel gazing. I do believe that’s a fair argument F1 must clean up its act. Think we’d all rather not have the hump there’s so many dark undertones, and we can get back to the action. It’s not my fault for commenting all morose, or Joe’s for looking at the philosophy, it’s the very plain fact we’d be happier if we never let these stains spill on our fun, and sure thing we don’t want to look at the dark side. That is a natural instinct. I want to get back to that as much as the next fan. Just you cannot deny these unhappy distractions exist. Way too painful to go la la la and convince oneself it’s not happening. Some fools take advantage of our positive wishes.
I shall find a way to kick myself up the bum and get more positive. I’ll do that by getting some actual research done. Hard facts, not this worrying. If meanwhile anyone can kick hard up the bum who is messing up the positive, I’d be grateful. I want to be always calling out who spoils the party. Definitely, though, time for me to get out of this morose groove.
Don’t kick yourself too hard! And try not to absorb too much negativity. I know too well how long someone can feel low. We need to be careful how much psychic mass we carry around. Let it go. We won’t heal the world by bearing its pains.
I’m no Buddhist (or any other religion), but I am fond of repeating the expression “Joyful participation in the sorrows of life.” It reminds me to keep a perspective on bad news. Like the Serenity Prayer. We have to know what part we play. It is too easy – way too easy – to feel nothing but hopelessness. That’s the wrong path by a mile.
… Not wanting to sound too sesquipedalianist, I do have to say this:
While it is true that the regnant unicameral entities around the world are disjointed from the realities of contemporary existence, I humbly debate a manifestation, of, this being a new juncture in the geographical entity signifying its presence by a unifoliate piece of garment.
Law and order preservation in tetrastichous formations have appeared in the conscientiousness, and vision, of the polar circle crossing nation in the past. Without it having been chimera…
JUKS,
bless you, i think you still have that thesaurus stuck to your face!
point taken, but you could have gone for some Monty Python references at least . .
I guess it’s a sad state, that I stuff too much attempted meaning into too few words, and make a mess of it. But sadder, maybe, that someone who reads doesn’t understand very much, when it is carefully put, and thinks the only response is ridicule. My experience has been that that happens more frequently when there is indeed comprehension, but disagreement. Then who disagrees with me gets very twisted because I try to argue a lot of different points at once. Actually, I could do better to simplify, simplify. However I have received such responses in real life, before. So I wonder what the pattern is. Am I writing nonsense, and I am retorted to by Hilaire Belloc? I don’t know. But one of us did try to observe at least some grammatical rules. The pity is, that I will never know what was being objected to. So the debate is therefore over. No harm done, but the pursuit of informative nonsense verse has sadly not been furthered.
Like ministry of silly…posts? If you want to have more meaningful discussions you should remember that many, if not most of us postig here grew up speaking something else than English. Myself included.
Sadly, it does appear that your bottom line objective is to appear superior through higher level of conduct of Englush language (“someone who reads doesn’t understand very much”, “one of us did try to observe at least some grammatical rules”).
There’s at least one person with the very same objective on every public board.
No worries, enjoy. It’s a great forum Joe has brought to all of us.
Simplify, then add lightness.
I’m going to be there. First trip to Canadian GP ever. If anybody has some useful thoughts, tips, can you contact me off-line? gvraymond@gmail.com.
Joe, I hope you view this bit of personal business as a legitimate use of your excellent forum. If not, I suppose you won’t print it. Thanks in advance.
In Canada the protesters must just be socialists looking for more free money. The country could not possible be corrupt as the government there is mainly made up of white people.
At first I was shocked (and for a second thought it was a joke) when I started to read this article and the connection to Bahrain (I’m from Ottawa so it’s pretty close to home). I then quickly realized how similar the stories must look; an interesting view to say the least (have you read about the protests in Gatineau recently as well?).
Personally, I don’t think there should be anything to worry about in terms of F1 being at risk from being canceled unless Bernie/FIA want there to be. Protesters get plenty of attention and media coverage here just walking downtown during rush hour (even more when those few bad-apples take things to the extreme like they have, like anywhere else) so there’s absolutely nothing to be gained from upsetting an F1 race (but so much to lose if they do).
I think (hope…?) people know how fragile that race already is (it’s been canceled and brought back once already and our economy isn’t all that perfect right now) and being one of the best races of the year (older track that actually flows and gives real racing opportunity, not like the modern tracks) Bernie’s probably itching to pull the plug and bring in some other races (New Jersey, etc).
Now, of course on a federal level, there’s still six weeks and who knows what our federal government will do by then…human rights violations may come quicker than people think (a union’s right to strike has already been shut down twice in the last year). In the next few years it may become a very real issue (still don’t know who thought they were a good idea), but that’s another story altogether.
Forget Starbuck’s and Tim, Montreal is reknowned for its cafes where one can get really good capucinos and lattes.
……….meanwhile back in Bahrain the GP2 series is holding a stand alone event this week. If I hadn’t noticed the results on Autosport dot com I wouldn’t have known it was taking place. Have all the outraged found something new to sing about this week? Where’s the British MP’s imploring the Teams to stay away? Has anyone noticed at all?
As to this blog entry, all I can do is laugh. The preceding comments from readers are pretty funny even if they’re predicable. The defensive Canadian responses are comedy gold ey?
its “eh?”
It is in rather poor taste to make light of the situation in Bahrain by comparing it to the Quebec student protests.
Are you just having some fun with us Joe ?
Joe how words a minute can you type
After the hue and cry over Bahrain (mostly due to slanted media reporting) can you expect anyone to become riled up over this? Let the chips fall where they may over local politics and let the racing go on.
Can there be anything more dangerous then a college student slighted over higher educational costs? Higher tuition costs = fewer recreational options.
If any group were deserving of tear gas and stun grenades I nominate these folks.
I was at the Montreal race one year when the Metro was on strike and we had to travel back and forth in a school bus!
Defeated the whole purpose of having the track close at hand in the middle of the city.
To add a bit to Joe’s article, the Quebec provincial government has offered to stretch the period over which the tuition hikes [will occur] from 5 years to 7 years as well as offer $39 million in bursaries amongst other proposals to the students group. Some of the offerings should help appease the angry student groups.
But as you noted Joe, most of the students will likely be gone at that time. Having visited both McGill & Concordia universities during the time of the grand prix weekend, they are quite empty except from a small group of students taking the odd class during the summer time.
The students are not fighting for themselves, as most of them will have graduated by the time the cost hikes come into effect, they are fighting for the future generations. This manifestation is tied into the OWS protest, and the eco-green movement.
As I understand it, the tuition fee increase will start in the fall semester 2012, so it will definitely affect those protesters who are not in their graduating year. I hope all those expecting to graduate this term will manage to do so, what with cancelled classes, some delayed exams, problems getting to exams, etc. For many, it is now time to start their summer or permanent jobs. It will be interesting to see if the strike peters out or changes in some way.
Does it affect all students in the fall semester of 2012 or just new starters? Student fee hikes in the UK have always applied only to new students, not to students already within the system. Otherwise my student debt would be considerably, considerably larger than it is. Thank goodness.
Canadian protesters would be right to point to the UK as an example of increases being the thin end of the wedge – my brother was one of the first to pay UK fees about 12 years ago – which started at £1k per year. Now UK students pay £9k.
This, however, doesn’t apply to Scottish students studying in Scotland. Let’s not even start down that road, but for anyone interested, look up “West Midlothian question” on Wikipedia.
“West Lothian question” rather. Oops.
Looking to give the Times another reason to criticize you?
The man at the Times thinks he is going to win a Pulitzer for stating the obvious. He will be disappointed.
I understand Montreal will go ahead under the banner of VilliF1ed…AuraF1, you made me roar with laughter. Many thanks – laughter is good for me.
+1 (as I believe the kids say)
I’m very gratiF1ed.
*groan* – I’ll learn when it’s too much one day…
#coffeeshopjoe may trend worldwide yet
Kuala Lumpur too. There’s suddenly plenty of F1 places in the international news.
The problem with kicking off a major news story with the Bahrain thing is that it starts up a narrative in the news and therefore in the public conscience. Suddenly everything related is “newsworthy”.
Hi Joe,
The students were also staging a gathering in front of the gates of the port of Montreal which caused some delays in the sea-freight moving world.
Considering that the tyres and heavy equipment will be coming that way, there could be delays for the logistics side of things
Air Canada had also some issues with entire group of pilots calling in sick causing plenty of flight delays couple of weeks back, as well as a sit-out by the ground handling personnel (and their HQ are in QC).
So yes, like every other french speaking folk, the Quebecois like to express their opinion the ‘liberal’ and slightly different way.