Striking Quebec students prepared to escalate push for better education funding

We should speak because it's done, we are done, we are done. Students are back in the streets of Montreal to cap off a week of strike action across Quebec. They're hoping to keep the pressure on the provincial government to address what they say is the growing financial insecurity and years of underfunding in education. Their demands include reforming Quebec's student financial assistance program and increasing funding for colleges and universities. Three weeks since the PSPP didn't go to the Chamber of Assembly, he's like a bad student for us. Our new government said that we need to defend Quebec culture and that we need to defend Quebec's identity, but it goes through the future. Students say they're struggling with everything. From food insecurity and expensive housing to having to work while pursuing their studies. I don't want to study like this. I want to be able to live. What I'm studying, what I want to do in life, I need the government to help me. The new Minister of Higher Education, Elsie Louvert, says she's willing to meet with student associations. In a statement to CBC News, her office says meetings with some student groups are scheduled in the coming days. But it says the student coalition organizing the strike has expressed reservations about meeting with the minister. Later in the demonstration, tensions escalated, with police clashing with some protesters and making at least one arrest. A Montreal police spokesman says projectiles were allegedly thrown at officers, who responded with tear gas. But students say today's demonstration is part of a larger movement, and they're prepared to take their demands further if the government doesn't respond. I would rather spend more time in school if I have to, so that people after me Could have a better experience. We won't stop until they really appreciate us, our hard work. And that could include another round of strike action. Student associations are considering an unlimited general strike during the winter semester, potentially in February.