Protesters converge on Montreal to oppose hydro rate hikes

Protesters from across Quebectook to the streets of MontrealSaturday afternoon to denounceHydroQubec's rising electricity prices, andthe provincialgovernment's austerity measures.

About 400 people attended theeventorganized by a coalition of 85 groups who say they oppose the the fee increasesand the rising privatization of public utilities.

HydroQubecis requesting an average increase of 5.8 per cent for residential customers' electricity ratesas of April 1, 2014.

• Hydro-Qubec wants to hike electricity rates by 5.4 per cent

Spokesman for the coalition, Franois Saillant, said the groups not only opposethe increase, but thebudgetary and fiscal policies of the PartiQubcois, whichhe saidare virtually the same as the previous Liberal government.

QubecSolidairespokesman,Amir Khadir, said that these increases disproportionatelyaffect those with lower incomes.

"These increases are the perfect example of tax injusticepractised by successive governments in Quebec. Ms. [Pauline]Marois refuses to deal with the privileges of the most powerful and, once again, it is the ordinary people who pay the price and have to tighten their belts,"saidKhadir in a statement.

Protestsacross Quebec

Demonstrators from across the province came toMontreal for the protest.

A Gatineau-based community grouporganized free bus transportation to Montrealfor 40protesters.

"Households are no longer able to make ends meet. We have seen the number of subscribers disconnected annually explode, even triple," said the director of theACEF de l'Outaouais,EloiBureau.

"In this context, we consider that households will not be able to afford that and it will bring many social and economic problems."

According to Bureau, Hydro Qubec has disconnected over 50,000households unable to pay their bills in 2011.

Bureau said that the new rate could add$50 to $200peryear, depending on the size of the dwelling.