More hunters, fewer jobs

Posted on 07. Apr, 2010 by John Evans in Editorial

As the school year nears its end, many students are leaving the halls of Humber College, diploma in hand, ready to start a career. They are armed with the knowledge, the know-how and the skills for success. But one thing many are unprepared for are the realities of the job market.
In recent years, much attention has been thrust upon the difficulties of finding a job, with widespread layoffs and cutbacks across the country. While this sparks feelings of worry and anxiety for some, others remain confident and simply repeat the childhood mantra of  ‘I can do anything.’ But it… [Continue reading]

Transit cuts interfere with education, job creation plans

Posted on 31. Mar, 2010 by zahure in Editorial

The provincial budget announced last week is, if nothing else, ambitious. The McGuinty government, faced with a deficit of over $21 billion, says its plan will result in a balanced budget by the end of the 2017/2018 fiscal year.

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan said he expects revenue to increase and 600,000 jobs to be created as the economy recovers. The new employment opportunities are in large part made possible by recent income tax revisions and the introduction of Harmonized Sales Tax. Still, a large part of the budget balancing will have to come from funding cuts.

Perhaps the… [Continue reading]

Potential copyright laws have questionable ethics

Posted on 24. Mar, 2010 by zahure in Editorial

A coalition of representatives from nations around the world has been working on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement – a set of standards for copyright laws applying to everything from music files to hand bags to generic drugs.

Few know about this undertaking and fewer understand exactly how it will affect their lives and business – because the laws are being created in almost complete secrecy. Further, no organization of content producers are included in the negotiations. No artists, musicians or writers have any input on the laws that may erect a wall between them and their fans.

Several… [Continue reading]

One hour of conservation not enough

Posted on 24. Mar, 2010 by zahure in Editorial

With almost 5 million supporters and a global network in over 100 countries, Earth Hour – organized by WWF – has quickly become one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations.

Just one year after its launch in Sydney, Australia, about 50 million people in 35 countries turned their lights off for Earth Hour 2008.

The official Earth Hour website calls the event, “A global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the… [Continue reading]

Students forced to live below the poverty line

Posted on 17. Mar, 2010 by zahure in Editorial

Nutritious, well-balanced diet not an option with $7.50 alloted for food per day by OSAP

Between limited funds and time constraints students often face, eating nutritiously can be tough. This fact was recently brought to light by the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance and its Food for Thought campaign. The campaign sees five post-secondary students from across the province embarked on an experiment aimed to highlight the deficiencies of OSAP by attempting to eat nutritiously on $7.50 per day, the same amount OSAP allots for food each day.

Students living away from home, regardless of city, are allocated slightly… [Continue reading]

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]