Premier Danny Williams must explain his medical tourism

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by Archivist in Editorial

“It’s my heart, my choice.”
This was the explanation given by Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams on why he opted to go to Florida for a heart procedure, rather than have it done in his home province.
Few would argue the premier has the right to choose what he does to his body. But as a political leader he is accountable to his province and owes them, and the rest of the country, an explanation.
The symbolic meaning of his decision is undeniable.
As the premier, Williams is privy to a great deal of information about the ins and… ... [continue reading]

Accountable government can not work without your vote

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by Archivist in Editorial

A year ago, HSF Executive Director Ercole Perrone told the Et Cetera that candidates for the HSF executive have a bad habit of making campaign promises they can not deliver on.
The candidates, he said, tend to promote projects that fall outside the scope of what the federation can accomplish.

In the past, candidates have promised heated bus stops, windmills and to increase the frequency of public transit to the school, to name a few. But as reporter Jon Hembrey found out, plans like these can easily fall through.
It is not all bad news though. The 2009-2010… ... [continue reading]

Toronto’s future requires TTC to become an essential service

Posted on 03. Mar, 2010 by Archivist in Editorial

Last week Toronto MPP David Caplan put forward a private member’s bill to declare the TTC an essential service – a move that would make strike action illegal. The bill was supported 39 to 7 by a vote in legislature , but provincial transportation minister Kathleen Wynne  blocked it.  Wynne said the province should not interfere with the union without a formal request from the City of Toronto.
City council voted on this very issue in October 2008, and the proposal to make the request of the province was defeated by a single vote, 23 to 22.
The potentially higher… ... [continue reading]

Keep pride alive for Paralympians

Posted on 03. Mar, 2010 by Archivist in Editorial

Our national pride run rampant during Vancouver’s Olympic Games. Chants of ‘Go Canada, Go!’ and impromptu performances of  O Canada were frequent as our televisions stayed tuned to coverage of the Games. For 17 days and 26 medals, we were transfixed. Bursting with pride  we waved our flags and red mitten-clad hands.
Now in the wave of post-Olympic glory, we should not let our excitement of being Canadian wash away as easily as those temporary Maple Leaf tattoos. The Paralympics are just around the corner. Let’s keep this party—and our national pride—going.
The 55 athletes representing Canada at this year’s… ... [continue reading]

Students must increase their political awareness

Posted on 24. Feb, 2010 by Archivist in Editorial

We are an apathetic generation – at least when it comes to politics.
Perhaps what is happening south of the border – with their numerous wars, villains and terrorists, and a president that is revered like a rock star – is more intriguing to follow.  Canadian politics often seems dry and cumbersome in comparison.  Case in point, one of the highlights of the candidates debate in the last federal election was Jack Layton’s snipe at Stephen Harper’s sweater.
Sure, with their lacklustre speeches and ever-failing promises, politicians may be partly to blame, but the level of public apathy is genuinely… ... [continue reading]

National pride’s high cost

Posted on 10. Feb, 2010 by David White in Editorial

With the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games kicking off tomorrow, a question remains, will the Games be a gold mine for the local economy or will it cause Vancouver to be in debt and financial turmoil?
Expecting an invasion of tourists visiting Beautiful British Columbia, much money has been spent in preparation for 2010 Winter Games; an amount that has far surpassed estimated budgets.
After the Vancouver City council recently voted unanimously to seek provincial approval to borrow an additional $458 million to fund the completion of the 2010 Athletes Village in False Creek, it is clear that the financing for… ... [continue reading]

Post-graduate burden larger and more common

Posted on 10. Feb, 2010 by David White in Editorial

The numbers are in. Student debt is on the rise.
A recent study by Statistics Canada revealed more post-secondary graduates are walking away with debt, and not only that the amount of the debt is at an all time high.
The study, which focused on Canada’s post-secondary graduating class of 2005, showed 57 per cent of students are relying on student loans to help fund their educations, up nearly 10 per cent from a decade earlier. And the financial horror-story doesn’t stop there. Students who had borrowed more than $25,000 had risen from 17 per cent to 27 per cent… ... [continue reading]

Canadians should honour oft-forgotten history

Posted on 03. Feb, 2010 by David White in Editorial

A recent survey conducted by TD Canada Financial Group revealed a disturbing fact about Canada’s national consciousness.  When respondents were given a list of yearly events, and asked to choose which ones take place in February, most were able to place Valentine’s Day and Groundhog Day among the correct answers.  But there was one event that was notably absent from most responses.  Of the 1,020 people surveyed across Canada, more than two thirds were unaware that Black History Month takes place in February.
It’s not as if it is a new tradition.  Black History Month has been a February custom… ... [continue reading]

Readers part of success of school newspaper

Posted on 03. Feb, 2010 by David White in Editorial

The Et Cetera will engage, challenge, and inform the Humber College community with progressive and contemporary content reflecting the diversity of its readership.
–The Et Cetera mission statement

Returning from our break for a new semester, we at the Et Cetera felt it would be prudent to re-introduce ourselves as Humber College’s award-winning weekly newspaper.
Students enrolled in the college’s journalism program produce the Et Cetera. We act as both reporters and editorial staff, shining a spotlight on the news that matters most to Humber students.
This semester, we promise to continue our coverage of events at the college… ... [continue reading]

TTC fare hike unfair, but students get a break

Posted on 19. Nov, 2009 by Erin DeCoste in Editorial

Students got good news this week from the TTC.
Post-secondary students, including college, university, part-time and adult high school students, who had paid adult prices for the Metropass, will now pay the same as high school students for their Metropasses – a move that is a long time coming.
With high levels of youth unemployment and always rising tuition costs, the Et Cetera thinks that it is about time students get a break.
TTC chair Adam Giambrone visited Humber on Nov. 18 to discuss the new student fare.
He told Et Cetera that one of the reasons he’s in favour… ... [continue reading]