For more than three months, more than one hundred thousand angry students have protested in Montreal in regards to planned university tuition fee increases. A group of students has decided to threaten the Canadian Grand Prix, scheduled for June 8-9-10 on Ile Notre-Dame.
During a meeting held May 9, an association of students from Universite du Quebec a Montreal (UQAM) declared "a weekend of disruption" aimed at "the cancellation" of the race, which carries "sexist, non-environmental and elitist" values.
Montreal newspaper La Presse wrote Wednesday that a spokesperson of the group mentioned that such actions had not yet been decided.
Francois Dumontier, the general manager of the Canadian Grand Prix said he was keeping a close eye on the situation.
Dumontier told La Presse that the safety team of his organisation already had discussions with the Montreal police department and the public transport authorities. He did not mention any of the plans discussed.
As it is the case for several years, access to the Ile Notre-Dame will be limited to ticket holders and accredited persons from a week prior to the event.
La Presse quoted Dumontier saying that the protesters are not targeting the right event. “Certain people want to cause problems during the Grand Prix. They say that it is only about capitalism and money. But they must not forget that the event brings a lot of fresh money into the Montreal economy. The event also give jobs to students”.
And to those who claim that Formula 1 causes pollution, the organizers want to add that because of an FIA programme, the F1 has been carbon neutral for more than 10 years.
During a meeting held May 9, an association of students from Universite du Quebec a Montreal (UQAM) declared "a weekend of disruption" aimed at "the cancellation" of the race, which carries "sexist, non-environmental and elitist" values.
Montreal newspaper La Presse wrote Wednesday that a spokesperson of the group mentioned that such actions had not yet been decided.
Francois Dumontier, the general manager of the Canadian Grand Prix said he was keeping a close eye on the situation.
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| Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. (Photo: WRi2) |
Dumontier told La Presse that the safety team of his organisation already had discussions with the Montreal police department and the public transport authorities. He did not mention any of the plans discussed.
As it is the case for several years, access to the Ile Notre-Dame will be limited to ticket holders and accredited persons from a week prior to the event.
La Presse quoted Dumontier saying that the protesters are not targeting the right event. “Certain people want to cause problems during the Grand Prix. They say that it is only about capitalism and money. But they must not forget that the event brings a lot of fresh money into the Montreal economy. The event also give jobs to students”.
And to those who claim that Formula 1 causes pollution, the organizers want to add that because of an FIA programme, the F1 has been carbon neutral for more than 10 years.