MONTREAL - Charest's Liberal party is making vulnerable Quebecers poorer with increased fees and more moves towards privatizing services, protesters argued in a noisy rally in downtown Montreal Tuesday.

Over 1,000 people congregated on Rene Levesque Blvd. West, chanting and voicing their opinions on the latest budget.

Many held posters bearing slogans such as "Education is not a luxury item," representing students, those in need of social services, unions and community organizations.

In Montreal, the protesters marched to the Hydro-Quebec building on Rene-Levesque at St. Urbain St. crowding the area in a symbolic gesture that increased fees and privatization with block access to services to the poor.

"You're rich or you're poor, you still have to heat your house," said Chris Schwartz, a community organizer with social rights group Project Genesis

The groups opposed a variety of issues, including health care user fees, shale gas exploration in Quebec, and the whiff of corruption in Quebec politics.

Fees increases are a major concern, said Francois Saillant, coordinator of the Front d'Action Populaire en Reamenagement Urbain, or FRAPRU, a Quebec group of grassroots housing committees and anti-poverty activists.

"(We're against) the increase of the fees in health… the increase of fees on university, on hydro. They want to increase taxation... and (we're also against) the cutbacks (to services)," said Saillant.

John Newhouse of the Retired Teachers Association protested Tuesday, saying he felt the Charest government is good for businesses, but not for people.

"I'm worried about healthcare in the future for myself and my colleagues," he said.

"The government is helping private companies instead of helping the people in health, education and welfare."

Chris said the government is not addressing low-income housing.

"We're really here today because their budget has not responded to the needs of people on low income," he said.

Organizers admit the timing of the protest was meant to strike at a government under siege, hurt recently by corruption allegations and calls for an inquiry into the construction industry.

Demonstrations also took place in Quebec, Sherbrooke and several other cities.