Canada - Hundreds Arrested in Quebec at a Protest Over Tuition Increases - NYTimes.com Nearly 700 people were arrested Wednesday night after a protest over sharply higher university tuition in Quebec erupted into another night of violence. The student protests have only grown since the provincial government passed emergency legislation last week to shut some schools temporarily in an attempt to end Canada's most sustained student demonstrations. The protest on Wednesday was declared illegal by the police because demonstrators did not provide an itinerary as required by the controversial new law, which says the police must be informed eight hours before a protest and told the route of any demonstration that includes 50 or more people. The protests began with an almost partylike atmosphere in many Quebec neighborhoods but turned serious after protesters began throwing objects at police officers in Montreal. The police said 518 people were arrested in Montreal and 176 in Quebec City. The protesters are demanding that Quebec's premier, Jean Charest, roll back the tuition increases of about $250 per year over seven years. Quebec has the lowest tuition rate in Canada, about $2,150, and even after the increases, the rate would remain among the lowest in the country. The conflict has caused considerable upheaval since it began in February in the province, which is known for having the country's most contentious protests.