2005 NEWS IN REVIEW: MANITOBA

COMPILED BY TESSA VANDERHART

FEB. 9, 2005

Day of Action

ROBERT KOTYK

Post-secondary students from across the province gathered by the hundreds on Feb. 2 at the University of Manitoba to march in favour of lower tuition fees and increased federal funding for education. The rally, called the Day of Action, was organized by student unions and student associations from around the province and was directed toward both the provincial and federal governments. Currently, tuition fees in Manitoba are frozen at 1999 levels, but university administrators have been pushing the government to lift the freeze. About 1,000 students lined the steps of the University of Manitoba’s administration building, holding signs provided by the Canadian Federation of Students.

FEB. 23, 2005

UMSU leaves CASA

ROBERT KOTYK

The University of Manitoba Students’ Union voted on Feb. 10 in favour of a motion to leave the Canadian Alliance of Students’ Associations (CASA), the national lobbying organization of which UMSU has been a member for nine years. The decision comes after a review of UMSU’s national affiliation by the council’s student affairs committee, which recommended in a report that the union leave CASA. The motion passed easily, with 24 council members voting in favour, four voting against and one abstention. According to Rob Marriott, UMSU’s then-director of public relations, the council found a variety of concerns about CASA, prompting the decision. Marriott also asserted that the council felt that the money spent on CASA — some $42,000 per year — would be better spent elsewhere. CASA national director James Kusie, himself a former vice-president of UMSU, expressed dismay over the council’s decision and asserted that his organization had not been informed of UMSU’s concerns. “I’m extremely disappointed for one thing that [UMSU] did decide to end relations with the organization,” he said. “CASA was never informed of the motion. There was no communication with the organization at all on any intentions.”

MARCH 16, 2005

Tuition stays frozen thanks to provincial budget

The tuition fee freeze was maintained for the ninth consecutive year, thanks to the NDP’s 2006 provincial budget released on March 8. The budget — which focuses on spending for health care, but also education — was criticized by opposition leaders for cutting taxes, which they say could lead to fiscal unbalance. Diane McGifford, the provincial minister of advanced education, claimed that this year’s budget is good news for students. “I know that students are very pleased with the maintenance . . . of the freeze. Students are continuing to pay tuition which is the same as they paid in 1997-98,” said McGifford. Another highlight of the budget is an additional $500,000 for bursaries and $240,000 in new funding for access bursaries.

MARCH 16, 2005

Discrimination at U of M residence

ROBERT KOTYK

A University of Manitoba student was discriminated against on campus, forcing her to leave the Fort Garry campus residence in which she was living during the first term, U of M officials said in February. Heidi Le May, a University 1 student originally from Minnesota, was living at the U of M’s Taché residence in February, when she was the victim of several acts of discrimination based on her sexual orientation. Le May, the University of Manitoba Students’ Union’s newly acclaimed LGBTT community representative, said that she found threats like “Keep it behind closed doors” and “Die” written in marker on the message board hanging from her room’s outer door. Since then, Le May has moved and found an apartment off campus. According to Jason van Rooy, co-facilitator of the U of M’s Rainbow Pride Mosaic (RPM), eight separate “bashing reports” — complaints based on incidents of homophobia on campus — have been submitted to the RPM since he began accepting them in September 2004.

MARCH 16, 2005

Axworthy’s open letter to Rice

On March 3, 2005, U of W president Lloyd Axworthy published a letter in the Winnipeg Free Press denouncing U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice for insisting that Canada join the U.S. in missile defence. Axworthy received many letters from Americans in response to the article and, surprisingly, he stated that 88.5 per cent were in favour of what he had written, with one supporter even proposing marriage. “There is an appetite for more broad-based dissent and debate,” said Axworthy. “The only people who didn’t want [missile defence] were about 70 per cent of Canadians, and that showed.”

MARCH 30, 2005

Prophylactics provoke CUSB campus controversy

Until this spring, students were out of luck at the Collège Universitaire du Saint-Boniface (CUSB): condom machines were banned at the francophone university. In fact, much controversy arose from the campaign of some Collège students to make the contraceptive devices widely available to students on campus at the University of Manitoba’s French-language affiliate. Condoms are currently available for purchase in certain washrooms at the U of M. Until the machines were installed, Selena Pepetti, a student and co-founder of the Comité pour la santé et la sexualité, a safe sex advocacy group, was one of few sources of condoms on CUSB’s campus, working to dissuade the perception that “sexuality is wrong.” Solange Buissé, president of the Association étudiante du Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface for 2004-05, said that her office had received some requests for the machines, and a decision has been made — though only after four months of discussion was the students’ association able to comfortably accommodate the request for prophylactic sales. A sign criticizing the need for condom machines was later set up in a washroom, to protest the decision. But Buissé was not worried: “we think generally there are more risks associated with unprotected sex,” she said.

- WITH FILES FROM ROBERT KOTYK

JULY 20, 2005

Ancillary fees cancelled — for now

The provincial government and the University of Manitoba reached an agreement in July to avoid charging students a $465 ancillary fee. The university’s budget crunch required an additional $465 per student — but instead of students footing the bill, the shortfall was supplemented by $6.9 million in one-time provincial funding. Instead of the ancillary, students paid a $150 technology fee. A similar last-minute agreement was reached with Brandon University on July 8, which provided $545,000 in provincial funding reduce ancillaries to $150 as well. The remaining fees will not take the place of operating grants, but instead fund technological improvements. Amanda Aziz, UMSU President, warned that next year, the additional ancillary fee — already passed by the Board of Directors — will, in all likelihood, be needed by the university. The University of Winnipeg reached a two-year deal with the province, seeing a total of $3 million in funding which will reduce ancillaries to $125 for much-needed repairs to information technology. Last minute funding to all three universities cost the provincial government a total of $10.4 million.

SEPT. 7, 2005

City uses gas tax money for roads Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz provided his rationale for spending his portion of the federal gas tax revenue on roads rather than green projects, like rapid transit. “I think the environment, and Kyoto, are very important — there’s no question about that,” said Katz. “By the same token, if your infrastructure is crumbling . . . what’s the difference if we have nice green projects? People won’t stay in a city where the infrastructure is falling apart. “It’s no different than saying you’ve got a serious heart condition — but take a look at your hands and toes, and you’ve got a beautiful pedicure and manicure. Well, guess what: if your heart stops, everything else stops with it.” A few weeks later, the federal government conceded, signing a deal with $167 million over five years — with the city agreeing to spend the money on infrastructure, like new roads, to be shared with public transit.

OCT. 5, 2005 City provides a plan for rapid transit Winnipeg’s transit system is set to move forward with a practical plan for bus rapid transit. The city’s Rapid Transit Task Force released a report on Sept. 30, recommending bus rapid transit as the most reasonable direction for the city to take. “That’s right, common sense with rapid transit, together in the same sentence,” said Mayor Sam Katz. The plan outlines the construction of two busways, one linking the University of Manitoba to downtown, the other in Transcona on vacant railway land. At the earliest, these busways will be complete in eight years. In addition, the plan highlights the immediate need for service enhancements citywide: namely, more and clearly demarcated diamond lanes, transit priority signals and new bus shelters. The plan is very similar to the one previously put before council by Glen Murray, with one difference: that plan was estimated to cost $500 million, while the new outline for bus rapid transit is projected to cost the city $270 million over the next 10 to 15 years.

NOV. 16, 2005

U of M students join CFS

Following nearly a year and a half of prospective membership in the Canadian Federation of Students, U of M students voted overwhelmingly in favour of becoming full members of the national lobbying organization. From Nov. 8-10, 18 per cent of students voted 86.4 per cent in favour of joining the organization. Concerns were raised about the referendum procedures, and one incidence of a student being able to vote twice has been addressed by UMSU council. Similarly, the University of Saskatchewan voted to join the CFS in early October.

NOV. 30, 2005 “Seeds of Change”

A controversial documentary by faculty of environment graduate student Ian Mauro and professor Stephane McLachlan was shown for the first time on Nov. 18, at the annual conference of the National Farmers’ Union in Ottawa. Its inaugural Winnipeg screening, on Nov. 30, sold out. The documentary’s release was delayed for three years as the filmmakers and the university struggled to find a compromise on its release with the university administration. It is controversial because it deals with genetically modified canola, from the perspective of farmers — some of whom are anti-Monsanto, the biotech giant. After much discussion, the university and filmmakers reached an agreement to show the film for educational purposes.





Volume 93 Issue 17	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	January 4, 2006

Home About Us Advertise Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Personals Volunteer	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly 2005 NEWS IN REVIEW: MANITOBA 2005 NEWS IN REVIEW: MANITOBA COMPILED BY TESSA VANDERHART FEB. 9, 2005 Day of Action ROBERT KOTYK Post-secondary students from across the province gathered by the hundreds on Feb. 2 at the University of Manitoba to march in favour of lower tuition fees and increased federal funding for education. The rally, called the Day of Action, was organized by student unions and student associations from around the province and was directed toward both the provincial and federal governments. Currently, tuition fees in Manitoba are frozen at 1999 levels, but university administrators have been pushing the government to lift the freeze. About 1,000 students lined the steps of the University of Manitoba’s administration building, holding signs provided by the Canadian Federation of Students. FEB. 23, 2005 UMSU leaves CASA ROBERT KOTYK The University of Manitoba Students’ Union voted on Feb. 10 in favour of a motion to leave the Canadian Alliance of Students’ Associations (CASA), the national lobbying organization of which UMSU has been a member for nine years. The decision comes after a review of UMSU’s national affiliation by the council’s student affairs committee, which recommended in a report that the union leave CASA. The motion passed easily, with 24 council members voting in favour, four voting against and one abstention. According to Rob Marriott, UMSU’s then-director of public relations, the council found a variety of concerns about CASA, prompting the decision. Marriott also asserted that the council felt that the money spent on CASA — some $42,000 per year — would be better spent elsewhere. CASA national director James Kusie, himself a former vice-president of UMSU, expressed dismay over the council’s decision and asserted that his organization had not been informed of UMSU’s concerns. “I’m extremely disappointed for one thing that [UMSU] did decide to end relations with the organization,” he said. “CASA was never informed of the motion. There was no communication with the organization at all on any intentions.” MARCH 16, 2005 Tuition stays frozen thanks to provincial budget The tuition fee freeze was maintained for the ninth consecutive year, thanks to the NDP’s 2006 provincial budget released on March 8. The budget — which focuses on spending for health care, but also education — was criticized by opposition leaders for cutting taxes, which they say could lead to fiscal unbalance. Diane McGifford, the provincial minister of advanced education, claimed that this year’s budget is good news for students. “I know that students are very pleased with the maintenance . . . of the freeze. Students are continuing to pay tuition which is the same as they paid in 1997-98,” said McGifford. Another highlight of the budget is an additional $500,000 for bursaries and $240,000 in new funding for access bursaries. MARCH 16, 2005 Discrimination at U of M residence ROBERT KOTYK A University of Manitoba student was discriminated against on campus, forcing her to leave the Fort Garry campus residence in which she was living during the first term, U of M officials said in February. Heidi Le May, a University 1 student originally from Minnesota, was living at the U of M’s Taché residence in February, when she was the victim of several acts of discrimination based on her sexual orientation. Le May, the University of Manitoba Students’ Union’s newly acclaimed LGBTT community representative, said that she found threats like “Keep it behind closed doors” and “Die” written in marker on the message board hanging from her room’s outer door. Since then, Le May has moved and found an apartment off campus. According to Jason van Rooy, co-facilitator of the U of M’s Rainbow Pride Mosaic (RPM), eight separate “bashing reports” — complaints based on incidents of homophobia on campus — have been submitted to the RPM since he began accepting them in September 2004. MARCH 16, 2005 Axworthy’s open letter to Rice On March 3, 2005, U of W president Lloyd Axworthy published a letter in the Winnipeg Free Press denouncing U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice for insisting that Canada join the U.S. in missile defence. Axworthy received many letters from Americans in response to the article and, surprisingly, he stated that 88.5 per cent were in favour of what he had written, with one supporter even proposing marriage. “There is an appetite for more broad-based dissent and debate,” said Axworthy. “The only people who didn’t want [missile defence] were about 70 per cent of Canadians, and that showed.” MARCH 30, 2005 Prophylactics provoke CUSB campus controversy Until this spring, students were out of luck at the Collège Universitaire du Saint-Boniface (CUSB): condom machines were banned at the francophone university. In fact, much controversy arose from the campaign of some Collège students to make the contraceptive devices widely available to students on campus at the University of Manitoba’s French-language affiliate. Condoms are currently available for purchase in certain washrooms at the U of M. Until the machines were installed, Selena Pepetti, a student and co-founder of the Comité pour la santé et la sexualité, a safe sex advocacy group, was one of few sources of condoms on CUSB’s campus, working to dissuade the perception that “sexuality is wrong.” Solange Buissé, president of the Association étudiante du Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface for 2004-05, said that her office had received some requests for the machines, and a decision has been made — though only after four months of discussion was the students’ association able to comfortably accommodate the request for prophylactic sales. A sign criticizing the need for condom machines was later set up in a washroom, to protest the decision. But Buissé was not worried: “we think generally there are more risks associated with unprotected sex,” she said. - WITH FILES FROM ROBERT KOTYK JULY 20, 2005 Ancillary fees cancelled — for now The provincial government and the University of Manitoba reached an agreement in July to avoid charging students a $465 ancillary fee. The university’s budget crunch required an additional $465 per student — but instead of students footing the bill, the shortfall was supplemented by $6.9 million in one-time provincial funding. Instead of the ancillary, students paid a $150 technology fee. A similar last-minute agreement was reached with Brandon University on July 8, which provided $545,000 in provincial funding reduce ancillaries to $150 as well. The remaining fees will not take the place of operating grants, but instead fund technological improvements. Amanda Aziz, UMSU President, warned that next year, the additional ancillary fee — already passed by the Board of Directors — will, in all likelihood, be needed by the university. The University of Winnipeg reached a two-year deal with the province, seeing a total of $3 million in funding which will reduce ancillaries to $125 for much-needed repairs to information technology. Last minute funding to all three universities cost the provincial government a total of $10.4 million. SEPT. 7, 2005 City uses gas tax money for roads Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz provided his rationale for spending his portion of the federal gas tax revenue on roads rather than green projects, like rapid transit. “I think the environment, and Kyoto, are very important — there’s no question about that,” said Katz. “By the same token, if your infrastructure is crumbling . . . what’s the difference if we have nice green projects? People won’t stay in a city where the infrastructure is falling apart. “It’s no different than saying you’ve got a serious heart condition — but take a look at your hands and toes, and you’ve got a beautiful pedicure and manicure. Well, guess what: if your heart stops, everything else stops with it.” A few weeks later, the federal government conceded, signing a deal with $167 million over five years — with the city agreeing to spend the money on infrastructure, like new roads, to be shared with public transit. OCT. 5, 2005 City provides a plan for rapid transit Winnipeg’s transit system is set to move forward with a practical plan for bus rapid transit. The city’s Rapid Transit Task Force released a report on Sept. 30, recommending bus rapid transit as the most reasonable direction for the city to take. “That’s right, common sense with rapid transit, together in the same sentence,” said Mayor Sam Katz. The plan outlines the construction of two busways, one linking the University of Manitoba to downtown, the other in Transcona on vacant railway land. At the earliest, these busways will be complete in eight years. In addition, the plan highlights the immediate need for service enhancements citywide: namely, more and clearly demarcated diamond lanes, transit priority signals and new bus shelters. The plan is very similar to the one previously put before council by Glen Murray, with one difference: that plan was estimated to cost $500 million, while the new outline for bus rapid transit is projected to cost the city $270 million over the next 10 to 15 years. NOV. 16, 2005 U of M students join CFS Following nearly a year and a half of prospective membership in the Canadian Federation of Students, U of M students voted overwhelmingly in favour of becoming full members of the national lobbying organization. From Nov. 8-10, 18 per cent of students voted 86.4 per cent in favour of joining the organization. Concerns were raised about the referendum procedures, and one incidence of a student being able to vote twice has been addressed by UMSU council. Similarly, the University of Saskatchewan voted to join the CFS in early October. NOV. 30, 2005 “Seeds of Change” A controversial documentary by faculty of environment graduate student Ian Mauro and professor Stephane McLachlan was shown for the first time on Nov. 18, at the annual conference of the National Farmers’ Union in Ottawa. Its inaugural Winnipeg screening, on Nov. 30, sold out. The documentary’s release was delayed for three years as the filmmakers and the university struggled to find a compromise on its release with the university administration. It is controversial because it deals with genetically modified canola, from the perspective of farmers — some of whom are anti-Monsanto, the biotech giant. After much discussion, the university and filmmakers reached an agreement to show the film for educational purposes.


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