There was lots of noise inside the New Brunswick legislature on Thursday, and it wasn’t from the politicians.
More than two dozen post-secondary students were kicked out of the daily question period as they protested tuition hikes.
“Our education is in peril, and the fact that our university is not funded and the fact we can't have innovation, a better education,” said Roxann Guerrette of the Universite de Moncton Students’ Union.
Students chanted "no more hikes" in French. They wore matching shirts, which they say represent the average debt load of New Brunswick students.
Tuition increases have been capped at 2 per cent following a one-year tuition freeze at New Brunswick’s four public universities.
The group says a major announcement coming up leaves some students out, and does not address the underfunding of post-secondary institutions.
“So far their solution is only addressing a few problems, and we're all here because we all care,” said Guerrette.
New Brunswick Minister of Post-Secondary Education Francine Landry met with some students yesterday. She said she was surprised by what happened.
“It’s certainly an announcement that will help the student debt, that will help the universities as well as the colleges,” said Landry.
Police were called to the legislature, but the demonstration ended peacefully.
While members of the opposition were quick to greet the students, they did not put down the speaker for kicking them out.
“I’m not going to question the speaker,” said Tory MLA Trevor Holder. “He has to work with the rules he has.”
“In this instance it was a surprise to me the speaker interpreted that way, but that is his prevue to do so,” said New Brunswick Green Party Leader David Coon.
The provincial government is expected to announce its new post-secondary education plans next week.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Nick Moore.
