Anti-austerity groups march through Montreal, promise a week of protests

Article content

About 400 protesters took to the street Monday and occupied several major businesses to protest austerity measures enacted by the Couillard government.

The group was protesting the province’s cuts to the health care system, the education sector and the daycare system, and the associated hikes in fees to balance the budget.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Anti-austerity groups march through Montreal, promise a week of protests Back to video

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video

Groups protested at the offices of Québecor, the Royal Bank of Canada, CIBC and Canada Steamship Lines, and marched through the streets of downtown Montreal, with the protest ending in front of the Stock Exchange tower at Square Victoria.

Ahead of the province’s budget due next month, the group, called Coalition Main Rouge, said it will hold protests all week, with more occupations of offices planned.

“Increasing tariffs and reducing income tax on the people who make a lot money means that it’s the ordinary person and poor people who are paying the bill,” said Jeff Begley, president of health and social services at the  Confédération des syndicats nationaux.

The group said major companies, especially banks, have made record profits in Quebec in recent years, while the ordinary citizen has been taxed more, and had to live with fewer government services. The group has outlined several measures to help balance the scales back toward the more vulnerable segment of society.

Among them:

• Impose a tax on capital for banks
• Increase the tax rate for businesses
• Increase the tax on dividends and capital gains 
• Crack down on tax evasion

jmagder@montrealgazette.com
Twitter.com/JasonMagder
Facebook.com/JasonMagderJournalist