Advanced education minister meets student representatives > Minister attended BC Federation of Students meeting at Douglas College Jake Wray News Editor Mean Mark, BC’s minister of advanced education, met with representatives from various BC post-secondary schools at Douglas College on September 30 and heard their concerns about housing, student debt, and textbook costs. Mark was at Douglas College to meet the BC Federation of Students (BCFS) executive committee. The BCFS executive committee includes representatives from 14 student unions, including the DSU. A total of ten representatives were present at the meeting with Mark, according to Simka Marshall, a Douglas College student and chair of the BCFS executive committee. Ina phone interview with the Other Press, Marshall said each representative had a chance at the meeting to introduce themselves and discuss their respective unions’ top concerns with the minister. “We had people talking about student debt, that was something people touched ona lot, and the need for a provincial grants program. People also talked about textbooks. There’s a lot of work being done around the province to bring awareness to the cost of textbooks,” she said. “People also brought up issues like housing issues. It was actually surprising, I think you would be surprised, to have heard about the housing issues not just from the Lower Mainland. There was people from campuses all around the province that were talking about that.” After hearing the representatives’ comments, Mark said she was open to further discussions with the BCFS, according to Marshall. “The minister] said that she’s looking forward to being able to work with us, and she’s grateful to have the opportunity to hear about student issues directly from students,” Marshall said. “It was a good intro-type meeting. She did say that she also felt that this was an important step to building a working relationship together.” Marshall said Mark’s predecessor, Andrew Wilkinson, who was advanced Photo via DSU education minister for the BC Liberal government, never came to meet with the BCFS, and they had a difficult working relationship with him. “Tt was a bit challenging, to be honest,” she said. “We felt like [Wilkinson] had a different set of priorities [than we did] for advanced education as far as student debt goes, and things like that.” The BCFS is looking forward to having more detailed discussions about how to address their concerns about housing, student debt, and textbook costs with Mark, according to Marshall. “IT think being able to have more in-depth dialogue, about really getting into the nitty-gritty of those policies, is where we want to go,” she said. New Port Moody councillor elected on promise to protect park > Bert Flinn Park eyed as possible location for new road Colten Kamlade Staff Reporter ert Flinn Park, located within Port Moody near Anmore and Belcarra, was created “as a result of a referendum in 1999,’ according to the City of Port Moody’s website. Now, almost twenty years later, the park may be disturbed by the work of developers who wish to build a road through the heart of the park. The Save Bert Flinn Park website says that the City wants to build the road “as a means of accommodating denser residential development on what were once industrial lands of the Imperial Oil Company at the western end of loco Road.” It goes on to claim that the road “would fundamentally and forever compromise the Park’s tranquility, ecosystem, and enjoyment for other uses.’ Those who oppose the building of the road have found a champion for their cause. Hunter Madsen just won the Port Moody byelection, campaigning > on the promise to preserve Bert Flinn Park. The Port Moody website announced Madsen’s victory on October 2. Karen Rockwell, Madsen’s nearest competitor, received only 530 votes, while Madsen received 1277. According to an article in Tri-City News, Madsen is a former digital media executive. Several people at Bert Flinn Park shared their opinion of the park with the Other Press. “[It’s] a beautiful park and a great place to take kids,” said Tina Campbell. “Tt’s a really nice place, it would oD 4 x < - oO Qo Cc £ — 5 C vu 3-2 vu => a a & _> ° £ ° — a bea shame to see it go,” said Justin Walls. “I’m an outdoorsy person, so, yeah, I think it’s really important to protect places like this.” According to the Save Bert Flinn Park website, the plans to build the new road are still in the works.. With all the support that the opposition to the road has garnered, however, it is clear that developers have a fight ahead of them. The Save Bert Flinn Park Facebook page has 435 followers, and last year the Save Bert Flinn Park organizers held the biggest rally that Port Moody has ever seen. There is no telling what effect Madser’s position on city council will have on the preservation of Bert Flinn Park, but it will likely be an encouragement to those who are struggling against developers to protect its natural beauty. Madsen posted on Facebook on October 3—through the Save Bert Flinn Park page—that “you can count on me to keep speaking up for the green and wild spaces that we hold dear. Again, thank you folks—you’re the best.”