Translating the printemps érable
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CUTV - broadcasting live from the protests nightly
Rouge Squad - Tactical Translation Team
Rabble.ca's Maple Spring Coverage
Valerie Simard November 2, 2012
Original French Text: http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/dossiers/conflit-etudiant/201211/02/01-4589701-outrage-au-tribunal-gabriel-nadeau-dubois-interjettera-appel.php
After meeting with his lawyer this morning, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois declared in a press conference that the decision delivered by judge Denis Jacques by the Superior Court of Quebec was mistaken on several points. The former spokesperson of CLASSE points out, particularly, that he did not advocate anarchy, as the judge says. “I did not advocate anarchy, I did not advocate disorder, I advocated accessibility to education and justice.” He added that his words last May were not just his, but “those of tens of thousands of people who believed in mobilizing against the increase to tuition fees.”
“In my eyes, this is about much more than just sentencing,” added Nadeau-Dubois. “It is about setting a precedent. A dangerous precedent, by which spokespeople of the student movement, the labour movement or the citizenry must from now on be afraid of speaking, for fear of ending up in prison.”
The lawyer for Nadeau-Dubois, Giuseppe Sciortino, believes that the judgement contains many “plainly unreasonable and plainly wrong” conclusions. “There are many errors in this judgement,” he remarked. “For example, in a contempt of court case it must be proven that the accused knew the terms of the court order, and this must be proven beyond doubt.” Sciortino underlines that it was not proven beyond doubt that Nadeau-Dubois knew the terms of the injunction given to the Fine Arts Students Association of the University of Laval.
The lawyer intends to notify the court within the next few days of his intention to appeal. He clarifies that it will be up to a judge to decide whether to suspend a sentencing hearing, which will take place on November 9. According to him, it is possible that his client will receive punishment in spite of his appeal, but it will not be executed until the end of the process. The maximum penalty is a year in prison or a $5000 fine. The former spokesperson could also be given community service.
A Call for Solidarity
Until now, legal fees for Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois have been paid by the l’Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante (ASSÉ). As he does not want to “empty the ASSÉ treasury” for his cause, Nadeau-Dubois is making an appeal for solidarity. He is inviting his supporters to make a donation on his internet site. If the amount raised does not cover all his costs, ASSÉ spokesperson Jérémie Bédard-Wien has affirmed that the association will continue to support Gabriel Nadeau Dubois. He declined to reveal how much the defense of the former CLASSE spokesperson has cost ASSÉ until now. “We make regular financial statements,” he said. In the next few weeks, ASSÉ will launch its own financing campaign to support other members of its association who must defend themselves in the courts.
In his decision, judge Denis Jacques relied heavily on the arguments of the plaintiff, Jean-François Morasse, a visual arts student at the University of Laval, who won an injunction last spring to be able to attend his classes.
On May 13, speaking on the air with RDI, Nadeau-Dubois declared: “I believe it is entirely legitamite for students to act to make sure there is respect for the democratic choice to strike. It is entirely regrettable that there is a minority of students who is using this tribunal to overturn the collective decision that was made. We find it entirely legitimate that people take the necessary means to make sure the strike vote is respected. And if this takes picket lines, we believe that this is an entirely legitimate technique.”
Yesterday, about 200 people met in downtown Montreal to show their support for Nadeau-Dubois.
Québec Solidaire invites supporters to participate in the fundraising campaign for Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois. “This judgement is not only against Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, but against the thousands of us who recognize ourselves in the printemps érable.”
Jean-Herman Guay August 20, 2012
Original French text: http://www.lapresse.ca/cpspecial/votre-opinion/201208/19/01-4566396-debat-des-chefs-la-gauche-a-un-nouveau-visage.php
Caption: Whether or not you agree with her ideas and proposals, it has to be said that Francoise David broke free from the other three politicians’ waffling language more than once during yesterday’s debate. Photo Credit: Robert Skinner, La Presse.
Francoise David had everything to gain by just being present. But she did more than that: she succeeded in embodying a modern, open left, which had never before been done so clearly in a leaders’ debate. Whether or not you agree with her ideas and proposals, it has to be said that Francoise David broke free from the other three politicians’ waffling language more than once during yesterday’s debate. Smiling, relaxed but confident, she successfully conveyed her message on multiple points. Although this is highly subjective, it is probable that a wave of sympathy has set in between her and certain segments of the electorate.
On matters of the environment, social policy, education and health, Francoise David clearly explained her party’s positions: free education at every level, against the privatization of healthcare. She tried to enlarge the debate more than once, beyond the strict question of the number of family doctors, for example. And she succeeded.
Daphnée Dion-Viens August 14, 2012
Original French text: http://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/actualites/education/201208/14/01-4565131-conflit-etudiant-les-associations-refusent-de-rendre-les-armes.php
“Yes, we would have liked to continue the strike,” says CLASSE co-spokesperson Jeanne Reynolds. ”But we can see that people want to continue to mobilize for the march on August 22nd and strike votes will be taken up again after the election.”
Student associations are refusing to admit defeat even though most cégep students have decided to return to classes. Far from being out of steam, student leaders are talking about a change of strategy in light of the September 4th election.
Blandine Parchemal, Ph.D. student, Université de Montréal August 9, 2012
Original French Text: http://www.lapresse.ca/debats/le-cercle-la-presse/actualites/201208/09/48-932-poursuivre-la-greve-etudiante-est-ce-jouer-le-jeu-des-liberaux.php
“If the student strike continues, that will play into the Liberals’ game”. “By prolonging the strike, students are participating in the re-election of the Liberal Party”. These words can be heard everywhere these days: as much from right wing pundits opposed to the movement as from those wearing the red square, be they citizens, journalists, professors or students.
But what exactly does that mean, playing the Liberals’ game?
Gabrielle Duchaine August 8, 2012
Original French Text: http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/dossiers/conflit-etudiant/201208/08/01-4563237-rentree-les-cegeps-sont-sur-le-qui-vive.php
Photo caption: Garda security agents in front of UQAM Tuesday night. Photo credit: Robert Skinner, La Presse.
With less than one week before what students are calling the “rentrée forcée” (forced return to classes), CEGEPs are doing everything they can to keep things from getting out of hand. Many have hired security guards, and a meeting is even scheduled for this morning with the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) to discuss operations having to do with the return to classes, La Presse has learned.
Émilie Bilodeau & Gabrielle Duchaine August 7, 2012
Original French Text: http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/dossiers/conflit-etudiant/201208/06/01-4562844-greve-les-etudiants-passent-au-vote.php
Monday night [August 6], Students of Social Services at Université de Montréal (UdeM) were the first to decide whether to restart the student strike. Rather than return to classes on August 27, members of the student association (AÉSSUM) decided to continue their strike.
After two and a half hours of assembly, 33 students voted in favour of restarting the strike, and 26 voted against, with 2 abstentions. 9.6% of students participated in the vote.
For Blandine Parchemal, who represents the Media Commitee of the UdeM strike committee, this first bodes well for the student movement. ”They have a reputation of being more moderate,” she said. ”At UdeM, votes don’t always pass with strong majorities.”
Tommy Chouinard August 3, 2012
Original French text: http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/elections-quebec-2012/201208/03/01-4562006-jean-charest-craint-labstention-des-anglophones.php
The Liberal party leader is afraid that Anglophones will stay away from voting booths on September 4th. He is holding up the spectre of a referendum to convince them to get out and vote.
Friday, during a radio interview on CJAD, a private Anglophone radio station in Montreal, he stressed repeatedly the dangers that could come about if Anglophone voters abstain.
“If you stay home, there’s a chance of a referendum you don’t want,” he maintained.
Thursday night, in Marguerite-Bourgeoys, the Liberal leader pleaded once again for Anglophones to come out en masse to the voting booths to stave off a sovereignty referendum.
Alain McKenna August 3, 2012
Original French text: http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/elections-quebec-2012/la-campagne-virale/201208/03/01-4562058-je-prends-souvent-le-metro-mais-je-nappelle-pas-les-journalistes-moi.php
Mme David, whose riding is in the heart of Montréal, chimed in on the subject last night on Twitter, making many of her 12 000 or so followers laugh.
This electoral campaign is also taking place on social media. Twice a day, our journalists report the stories that are lighting up Twitter, Facebook, or Youtube.
-Françoise David, President of Québec Solidaire (@FrancoiseDavid)
Tommy Chouinard August 2, 2012
Original French text: http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/elections-quebec-2012/201208/02/01-4561719-jean-charest-se-donne-810-dans-la-lutte-contre-la-corruption.php
His adversaries accuse him of being the leader of a corrupt government, but Jean Charest gives himself 8 out of 10 in the fight against corruption.
“Go look at the collection of laws and regulations we adopted. It is hard not to arrive at the conclusion that we did everything we could. No government has done more to fight corruption and collusion in the construction industry,” he affirmed in a press conference on Thursday. Journalists pressed him to give himself a score: “We give ourselves a good score, 8 out of 10,” he said. Earlier, in an interview he gave to a Quebec radio station, he gave himself the same score for the health file.
La Presse Canadienne August 2, 2012
Original French Text: http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/elections-quebec-2012/201208/02/01-4561679-qs-consterne-detre-exclu-des-trois-debats-a-tva.php
Concerned by their exclusion from three televised leaders’ debates being organized by TVA, Québec Solitaire is reproaching Québecor for taking a position in the election campaign.
Le director of TVA announced on Wednesday that it would not be part of the traditional consortium of media broadcasters who organize the leaders’ debate for the electoral campaign. TVA will go at it alone with three debates. In each debate, two leaders of the three main political parties will go head to head — the Liberal party, the Parti Québecois and the Coalition Avenir Québec.
