N.S. students channel Justin Bieber to protest tuition hikes, sexual violence

Students protesting tuition increases and campus sexual violence outside Labour and Advanced Education Minister Kelly Regan's office broke into song Thursday afternoon channeling Justin Bieber to make their point.

"It's not too late now to say sorry. Can make our campus safe for all bodies. It's not too late now to say sorry because out-migration is real bad and we're all moving to Newfoundland," the group of 15 students sang to the tune of Bieber's hit song Sorry.

The demonstration was organized by the Canadian Federation of Students Nova Scotia. Michaela Sam, chairperson for CFSNS, says students arrived at 9:00 a.m.

Regan was not in her office for the demonstration.

A letter on her door stated that she had out of office commitments. Students stuck yellow post-it notes all over her door with messages saying, "Tuition or food?" and "Consent is mandatory."

"It's within [Regan's] responsibilities to support Nova Scotia students. Unfortunately, what she has done since taking office is really take out this all out attack on students," said Sam.

"It's time that Minister Regan reject the tuition fee reset and pass legislation to help us combat sexualized violence on campus," she said.

Regan responds

Ina statement, Kelly Regan tells CBC that she meets with students on a regular basis and by appointments.

In response to student concerns about tuition,Regan wrote, "If universities can't charge similar tuition for similar programs, they can't offer the same number, or quality, of programs. A 3% tuition cap remains in place for Nova Scotia students."

Regan says Nova Scotia has one of the best student assistance programs in Canada, "provincial loans are interest-free, there are up-front bursaries and grants students don't have to repay, and the loan forgiveness program can wipe out a student's entire provincial loan, worth up to $15,000."

About sexualized violence on campus, Regansaysthere are a number of concerns about Bill 114, the Safer Universities and Colleges Act introduced by Cobequid-Sackville MLA DaveWilson in2015.

"Nova Scotia has a number of small universities, and stakeholders have told us that tracking and publicly reporting sexual assaults in smaller jurisdictions could identify the victims."

Regan says many aspects of the bill are being addressed already by universities and the province.