Protesting the Premier
Sandro Andres

In an attempt to show their disdain with social cuts and rising tuition, Wilfrid Laurier students, with regional social action organizations, protested last Thursday at the Waterloo Inn where Premier Mike Harris was the guest speaker at a business luncheon.

The protest was organized to send a clear message that, "Mike Harris is not good for students or the working person," said event organizer Thomas Mac Kay, a third-year honours Music student and Laurier NDP activist.

While the protest only attracted four WLU students, it was well attended by the Waterloo Public Interest Research Group, teachers unions and the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty.

Even though the cold and rainy weather prevented a large student turn-out it did not deter Laurier activists from displaying their dislike for the Harris government.

With their banners and signs reading, "Harris steals food from welfare families," and, "Education is a right not a fight." Students were poised to be noticed by ticket holders attending the $60-a-seat luncheon.

"Harris wants Arts students to work for minimum wage," said MacKay. "That's the message that we are sending to him - that we'll work for $6.85 forever."

While protestors displayed their banners at the main hotel entrance, Harris circumvented them by slipping into the hotel via a back entrance off limits to protestors and patrolled by police. The protestors remained as onlookers to what one police officer called, "one of the more civilized protests in recent months."

Harris, in town to address 300 people at the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce event, produced a jar of 260 loonies to illustrate the monthly after-tax income an average Ontario family has gained since the Tory government was elected in 1995. He was quick to point out, "health care is our greatest priority… we've increased health care by $1.5 billion."

The owners of mid to large-sized businesses in attendance saw the event as, "necessary and vital to the growth of Ontario and its economy abroad."

"Productivity is everything," reported an owner of a truck-tire bolt manufacturing company based in Ancaster. "It's important to give students a vital economy that is healthy and alive.

"Through Mike's leaders, companies like mine, for example, have been able to sell throughout Canada and North America."

"When I look at the crowd, I see a real success in attendance - a cross section of people and political parties," said Ontario Health Minister Elizabeth Witmer about the diversity of the crowd.

While some were busy noting business and political successes, critics were quick to point out since the Harris government has come to power, university tuition in Ontario has increased nearly 30 per cent and student debt loads have increased to an average of $25,000 per graduate.

"Stop increasing the rich and start investing in social programs," said one University of Waterloo student. "The working class constitutes the nation."

With rising debts, widening gaps between rich and poor and faltering social programs, many are becoming skeptical about traditional government structures and are looking elsewhere for answers.

"People are able to organize themselves," said Rick Scott, a first-year honours Computing student.