Thursday, February 14
“‘“Netted Gem
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Volume 2, Issue 18
Students have the ear of, . Premier Lee
By Carolyn Ryan
Lack of communication between government and the University of Prince Edward Island is the most immediate problem in relations between the two groups, Premier Jim Lee told three UPEI student representatives Monday.
The students had come to see him about MPHEC (Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission) funding increases and jobs for post-secondary students, though.
“We’re generally pleased
with the meeting,” said Stu- dent Union President Michelle Dorsey who, along with Canadian. Federation of Students provincial repre- sentative Cathy Campbell and Student Ombudsman Jacinta Gallant, met with Lee for an hour in his comfort— able Shaw Building office. ‘ Lee listeneding attentiVely as the students outlined their concerns about funding and job creation, and told him that the university needs a 5 or 6% 'increase over last
year’s funding in order tor
stay out of the ‘red. The premier said he had met with the council of Mari-
time Premiers the previous,
week, who expressed sur- prise that the MPHEC’had recommended only 4.5 °/o.
_ “We’ve been telling them to start living in the real world for years,” Lee said adding that the 4.5% figure looks acceptable to his government, but possibly not the other two.
He could not reveal the increase the province will recommend in its budget,
though. 7 To highlight real problems caused by underfunding,
Gallant showed Lee a UPEI calendar with large crosses
drawn through over half the courses in the Political Studies Department.
“These are courses that have not been offered this year because profs have‘gone on sabbatical and haven’t been replaced,” she told him.
The library has seen a cut in hours of over 10,00 in the last tenyears, and students in Engineering have no machine shop, and so suffer when they progress to other Maritime Universities, the Premier was
, told.
“This is the problem — we don’t know your concerns,” said Lee.
He thought the ignorance could be remedied through greater communication, espe- cially on the Board of Governors level.
The provincial Cabinet is meeting with the Board next Wednesday, February 20, in the first'meeting of this kind Lee can remember. ,
We’ve been in a position of having to pick up what’s going on from your Presi- dent’s speeches to Rotary,” Lee said. '
Both Dorsey and Lee hope the “new Board of Governors” as this year’s has been called, will be active and interested enough to change this situation.
The issue of funding for the renovation of Main Building and the construction of' a Sports Complex was spoken of, but Dorsey said, “We want to be able to get a major in Political Studies before we go playing racquet- ball.”
Still, all four agreed that the construction of any new facilities will be “a drawing card for UPEI”. .
“The university was going -
nowhere but down before the Vet College agreement,” said
Inside the skin ‘
from a survey
credible newspaper. ”
News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..1,3,5
Fresh Point of View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2
‘Editorial, letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . .. 4
Dlmwi/t in Under/and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6
I Rock Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6
Dear Bobby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8, 9
Lifestyles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 10
SU page .v . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 12
Staph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3 _ Quote of theWeek
“The Netted Gem (name) has almost become a symbol of the paper’s amazmg transformation from a complete rag
to a
Second year Arts student
vivyevv i lam , I
Lee, “and now it’s going up.”
'Lee and the students also discussed the federal govern— ment’s newly-announced job creation program, called Challenge ’85, which has allocated $205 million for the creation of jobs in the private sector, in municipalities, and in communities.
Campbell asked the premier if the PEI govern- ment would request of Flora MacDonald that the majority of available funds be chan- nelled to community pro- jects, saying these are the most needed on both sides and give students the most valuable work experience.
Prince Edward Island will receive $715,000 in funding and Campbell fears the money may not be used if it is
left to the private sector to create jobs, given the Island’s economy. 7
“i think (MacDonald) will take direction from the pro- vince on that,” said Lee, who has met with the Minister of Employment and Immigration.
The premier volunteered to set up appointments with the Deputy Minister, of Industry with the UPEI students, who asked to be given a voice in
job creation decisions made.
Dorsey also asked Lee if his government would match th $1000 to $1500 the Student Union hopes to make on‘ its Main Event this Thursday, for use in creating a summer job for one student, not necessarily on campus.
Lee said the money would have to come from the de- partmental budget of
Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce Wilbur MacDonald, and suggested the students talk to him.
The students appreciated the reception Lee game them.
“‘Where else but in P.E.l. could a group of students come and talk with the Premier for an hour, just like that?” wondered a bemused Cathy Campbell, on the way out.
Residence students about to take off during a recent outing to 'Brookvale for skiing and
tohogganing. The day was a success, with about 50 people attending. Another is planned for March 1. (Photo: Underhill — Yearbook)
Details of job program announced
OTTAWA (CUP) —- The federal goverrlmenthsays it will gainfully employ 95,000 Canadian student this summer, with a little help from big business and a new $205 million student summer job program. 7
Flora MacDonald, employ- ment and immigration minister, announced Feb. 6 the government is putting an
emphasis on career-related,
jobs. for students this summer in a newly created program
called Challenge ’85. She said
95,000 jobs will appear.
Of the $205 million, the government will allocate $163 million for wage subsidies, $30 million for loans allowing students to create their own summer businesses and $10 million for jobs in federal. departments and agencies.
The $205 million, though touted as an increased by MacDonald, is “actually a decrease in the amount of money spent last year when inflation is taken into con- sideration. The government spent $201 million on Summer Canada Works last year, the coun- try’s largest student ,job creation program. It was eliminated in the Tories’
Nov. 8, 1984 economic state- I
ment.
MacDonald said she will pers‘bnally challenge the private sector to create additional jobs for. students and has approached chief executives of eight corpora— tions who promise to bring as many as 10,000 young people into their ranks. The cor- porations include IBM,
Liberal «
Noranda Mines Inc., Imperial Qil, Northern Telecom, Bell Canada and the Royal Bank.
“This summer, instead of offering pre-packed federally funded projects that only provide next year’s tuition and little else, we are chal- lenging our economic part- ners to join us in coming forward with meaningful jobs that improve students’ ability to contribute to society now and in the future,” she said at a press conference.
The program also includes four components of the Liberals’ Summer Canada Works which roughly re- ceive the same amount of money as they did last year. They are: the $13.6 million Canada Employment Centres for Student, the $2.3 million internships for native stu-
dents, the $13 million national defence depart— ment’s cadet and reserve
training and the $1.2 million RCMP law enforcement and
keeping the peace program.»
Two new components — work orientation workshops and business drive for jobs will be created. The government will give $0.5 million to the former in the hope .of helping disadvan- taged high schoolers and potential dropouts, and $1.3 million to the latter to urge leading corporations and businesses to hire students.
MacDonald, accompanied by youth minister Andree Champagne under the hot glare of television lights, beamed as she said the
government wants to expand the business drive next year if the promotion proves successful this summer. Opposition MPs following the press conference and in the House of Commons during question period that day blasted MacDonald for
what they considered an ironic and hypocritical announcement coming
shortly after the Tories pro- claimed 1985 as International Year of Youth.
“1 had hoped consultation would have created an exciting new program,” said Liberal youth critic Sheila Finestone. “I am very dis- appointed; there is nothing new, no facts, no figures. It’s all confidence and business.
“Our young people are too important to play political captive with. ”
In the House, NDP leader Ed Broadbent asked the employment and immigration minister why she announced a program similar to the one created by the Liberals last year, which she called inade— quate to meet students’ needs. He said he wonders why she is simply changing the program’s details when the economic climate is the same or worse than last year.
“... is (MacDonald) aware that companies in Canada now have more than an average 30 per cent of em- ployees on lay-off? Why in heaven’s name, when they already have lay-offs, will they want to hire students? The government is leaving students out there swinging
and the minister that,” he said.
MacDonald replied: “I can advise the honorable member that 1 did something last evening which 1 do not believe he could have done ...” The House filled with sniggers and catcalls.
MacDonald then men- tioned her meeting with the corporate executives and later said to another question that she does not apologise for her “nocturnal activities” when they result in 10,00 more jobs for students.
Other NDP MPs pointed out that the program simply makes the private sector do the minister’s job and that it does not contain affirmative action measures for women.
knows
MacDonald failed to con- sult the Canadian Federation of Students, Canada’s na— tional student lobby, before she made the announcement. The minister is expected to meet with the federation Feb. 11.
“It’s typical of this govern- ment to say they will consult with everything and then refuse to consult with the most significant group in this area,” said NDP MP Howard McCurdy, post—secondary education and youth critic.
CFS chair Beth Olley said she was disappointed Mac- Donald did not bother to meet with the national stu- dent organization before drawing up the program but hopes CFS representatives will convince the minister to increase the amount of money available.