Langara hosts (almost) all-candidates forum » Right-wing seat left empty Chandler Walter Humour Editor © humour@theotherpress.ca hose hoping to represent the swing riding of Vancouver South came together at Langara College for an all-candidate forum, though unfortunately it did not quite live up to its name. Harjit Sajjan, the Liberal candidate running second place in the polls, sat with Amandeep Nijjar of the NDP, and Marxist- Leninist candidate Charles into electing them to represent the riding. Also on the panel was Michael Barkusky for the Green party, though his eyes are on the seat representing Vancouver- Granville. He was filling in for Elain Ng, Vancouver South’s Green Party candidate. Noticeably absent was Conservative incumbent Wai Young, or any Conservative replacement to fill the empty seat at the far right of the : and member of parliament, Wai : Young, has declined to attend : today, citing a heavy schedule. : [therefore contacted other : Conservative campaign offices, : no fewer than u, in fact, in the : Greater Vancouver area.” Unfortunately, none of the : dozen Conservative candidates : were able to attend, with Phillips : : either receiving no reply, or : : finding that the candidates were : “otherwise engaged.” The seat, a Conservative : sign, and a glass of water were Boylan; all hoping to sway voters : left at the end of the table in the : hopes that a candidate might : arrive late, though none did. The topics of the forum had : a wide range, with members : of the audience taking turns : to ask questions after each : candidate had a five-minute : opening speech. All candidates : were given equal speaking time, : and apart from a few differing : views on issues such as Bill C-51, : the forum was generally well- : mannered. Harjit Sajjan defended Liberal support of Bill-Cs5u, opposition is to make this bill : better for all Canadians.” Nijjar, : Barkusky, and Boylan suggested : that the legislation should have : and that action is necessary : to help poverty-stricken : Canadians. Prompted by a : student’s question, and with u v Ss oO a ~ 3 v a n Vv a? vo oO 4 Vv = Db iQ 5 2 ° S a : office was contacted shortly : after the end of the forum, : and when asked why Young : couldn’t be in attendance, the candidate’s table. : _ : just been thrown out. : the Conservative seat empty, : response was: “Our schedule is Dr. Stephen Phillips : explaining that there are : : : : Do . eo . Step Ps, : three f bl ts toth : The entire panel was in : the forum began an unopposed : incredibly tight; we have lots of Political Science Professor and: bill ocho tof bein, ote} agreement that some form of : discussion on where Harper's : commitments and unfortunately organizer of the forum, began , L wil a Re Hen t : electoral reform is needed, that: Conservative government had —_: there are some requests we have the evening by explaining the P Abtacis OF GIVEN TB AIS. ThE Sal : there needed to be an increased: gone wrong. : to decline.” absence: “The local candidate : that: “Our job as responsible : focus on the environment, Wai Young’s campaign Gigabit Internet: higher speed, higher prices » Canadian tech giants race to introduce fastest service ever Aaron Guillen Staff Reoorter H2 frustrations with videos that buffer or websites that take too long to upload? Have no fear; there will soon be a quick fix to those menial problems in your lives. A new “gigabit” speed, provided by Rogers, Bell, and Telus, is ready to tempt consumers into spending cash— and lots of it. Starting at $150 per month, this new Internet service promises one gigabit per second. This new speed option will download HD movies ina mere 25 seconds, and full photo albums within a literal blink of an eye. The latest company to reveal their plan for the new cutting- edge service is Rogers with “Ignite Gigabit,” which they plan to roll out in Toronto in the new year. They are expected to start taking pre-orders prior to the end of this year. With a goal of complete reach nationwide by the end of 2016, people will have to wait a while until they can get their hands on the dream Wi-Fi network. Yet the question remains: how will Canadian consumers react? The introduction of gigabit Internet will most likely be : utilized by eager consumers : around metropolitan areas with : busy schedules and technology- : integrated lives, while some : Canadians may find the service : too redundant to justify the : costs. However, with technology : like HomeKit, introduced by : Apple and making its way into : the homes of Canadians, people : : may soon find a need for quicker : : responses and faster speeds : when adjusting thermostats or : unlocking the front door with : their phone. In addition, Rogers, : who has manufactured a 4k : : television, has plans to broadcast : : Canadian sports games in 4K : : definition. Additional plans : have been in talks with Shomi : and Netflix in order to provide : clearer streaming quality. Although Rogers might : be at the forefront of the race : to consumers, Bell and Telus : are not far behind, each with : $1-billion investments for their : fiber-optic Internet expansions. : Rogers has yet to provide their : estimates on how much the > service will cost them. These : giant corporations will go head- : to-head to see who can bring Meee HODONAD NNHOONO NORMED : 2 2S Ce} Sra SALA i aa : the gigabit service to Canadian : consumers the most quickly. “The number of devices : connected to the internet in the : home is increasing, and they are : consuming more internet every : month. With our Gigabit roll : out, customers can watch TV in : 4K and still have their devices : streaming movies and shows Bo on aeons i) oo lAl2 TLE LH ml - IDOHON HoAINOL x Image via thinkstock : with clearer picture quality : and less buffering,” said Guy : Laurence, President and CEO : of Rogers Communications, to : CTV.