The Cadre - —wNwSeeQVQVQVL———S——L—< LS Jensen says Scholarship fund a ‘political carrot” Is the millennium fund a fraud ? ships. “They're not stemming BY TODD MACLEAN Many believe that the federal government’s large investment of 2.5 billion dol- lars into the Millennium Schol- arship Fund may just be an easy way out of providing an- nual support for post second- ary education. Beginning in the year 2000, roughly 100,000 schol- arships (averaging $3000 a year) will be awarded annu- ally to full and part time stu- dents forten years. This marks the “single largest investment ever made by a federal gov- ernment to support access to pe all Canad Blaine. Jensen, repre- sentative of UPEI’s Student oat one it fund is that this money has yet to even be allocated. “There’s no money in it yet -- it is based on funds that have yet to be committed from the federal budget.” said Jensen. 10 March 1998 Jensen is very skeptical of the Millennium Fund for this reason, along with several oth- ers. He is also concerned that the federal government will require an entirely new as- sessment process to determine who will receive the scholar- ships, one separate from the student loans assessments. “hey are planning to base their assessments on both merit and need,” Jensen said. “How do they judge the two of them at the same time? It could turn out to be a huge bureau- cratic process in for stu- dents to access it.” Another downfall is that the government could be ac- cused of diggin, en deeper hole with this process. Even though some students will benefit from the a elaine one er ann cutbacks from federal fund- for those students who are not chosen for the scholar- the tide of rising tuition,” ex- plained Jensen. “This program encourages universities to raise their tuition fees, which places more ina position where they more to goto school. In a way it is actually reducing access to university. is creates quite a (icsiousasrs come is c the knowledge and skills Ca- nadians will need for better } and a better standard of iving in the 21st century more accessible and more afford- able,” as the information pam- phiet "Trhisiebestmeitinthe future of our is the result of our | battle against the deficit. It is an in- vestment that will pay for itself over and over again in the years ahead,” said Finance Minister Paul Martin in his 1998 budget But 2.5 billion dollars Sammer Camp Jobs in the U.S.A. Visas Arranged Specializing in Pub Crawls om and ee Sooventt Items eR a ph: 368-8337 kippewa@tiac net; voice (781) 762-8291; fax (781) 255-7167. invested ona term basis is a relatively | federal in- Ke ee “one time payment” Shoah says. “I think the government 3 should be reinvesting this directly into the fund- ing of education,” he said. “I 8S just hope this isn’tan abandon- ment of higher education by the government.” eo BY ERYN FAGAN The alleged leak of a private letter by the Department of Indian Affairs has led to ac- cusations, anger and de- mands for an apo om month in the House mons. Bruce Starlight, band mem- ber of the Tsuu T’ila re- serve in Alberta, wrote to eras serie cat band administra- tice. The letter, alleged marked with the minister's thar Winen hands ofChiefRay who is now suing Starli for libel. An internal inves- tigation into these events is The Reform *s Indian Affairs critic, Mike Scott, has been istantly out- = - Sai Castes of soothe National Aborg Aborigi- Economic Development Board and member of the First Nations Resource Council, Chief Whitney ran ond ic. astinges 00 is a oO Jean Chretien. The ition spent six strai yS interrogating pg piel mri an On F 1m Stewart stated, “I sch whatihananivdanaiaat this opposition. | it ani nied ee - Natives demand for from House of ommons ment made by a political forebear of mine, Sir Wilfred Laurier, who said it is easy to raise prejudices. I believe this is why we are on-- This remark was immedi- ately a by an an- Peete thie minke a I lived on a reserve, | taught on a reserve, and | raised five Indian foster children in my home,” shouted Re- former Deborah Grey. “It is our een wend grassroots ginal peop! who trusted to go to her in confidence.” Also enraged was John Duncan, w wife and children are status Indians. “When the minister accuses us os being motivated by tnd my SEE Detoon aeaiais Reinicp Man- ning, in defence of his par- *s recommended cuts to t, added that, “We do not believe that a fraction of the money . . sever to ‘a s abo- In response to demands, Stewart finally said, “1 was to reflect the facts as I see . If | have hurt teen soneresely I would be fhe frat betas has attracted me- (eae