issue 27// vol 46

Link crumbling

» U-Pass suspended for the summer
as TransLink faces insolvency

Craig Allan
Staff Writer

 

f someone said in January that TransLink

was going to be unable to pay its debts
not even half way into the year, it would
have sounded impossible. Yet, in the
throws of the coronavirus, that is where
TransLink finds itself.

Having already suspended the U-Pass
program for all post-secondary schools in
the region (including Douglas College) and
reducing service due to a large drop off in
customer travel related to the pandemic,
Translink is facing the possibility of being
insolvent before Canada Day.

Earlier this month, Douglas College
announced that they had reached an
agreement between TransLink to suspend
the U-Pass for the summer semester. This
will mean a $170 savings for students taking
classes in the summer. For many who may
rely on the U-Pass for everyday life, the
college has said that financial aid may be
possible for those who can show need and

have proper documentation. Students
looking to apply for this should contact the
Douglas College Financial Aid Office.

Ina statement given to the Other
Press by the U-Pass office of the school, it is
explained that the pass will be suspended
for the entirety of the summer semester—
even if restrictions are lifted.

There may also be more savings
coming to Douglas students regarding
the U-Pass. For many students, the use
of the pass for the month of April has
been fruitless because of the lack of need
for any students to travel. The U-Pass
office states that “Douglas College is in
ongoing discussions with TransLink, other
post-secondary institutions and student
association representatives about potential
refunds for students who have not used
their April pass. Students not needing their
April U-Pass are encouraged not to use it.”

For TransLink, the loss of revenue
from the U-Pass is just another brick out
of their financial wall. This combined
with the factors of falling revenue due free

news // no. 5

es

transit on buses, falling ridership, and a
smaller fuel tax revenue due to the lack of
people driving and gassing up, are causing
TransLink to lose $75 million a month,
according to the CBC.

The transit system could find itself
unable to pay its bills by June and will need
a bailout from the provincial and federal
governments in order not to go insolvent
according to the TransLink Mayors’
Council Chair and New Westminster

‘ .
“a

  

Photo by Billy Bui

Mayor Jonathan Cote. The mayor has even
said that “there will be some elements of
our transit system that will no longer exist.”

The warnings are ominous. What
services could go extinct soon? Will future
transit projects like the SkyTrain extension
to Langley or the extension to UBC be in
jeopardy? For students who live far from
transit hubs, service was already not the
best—and more cuts to buses could be
devastating.

UCRU calls on federal government
to increase financial support

» Students and graduates need help during COVID-19

Emma Livingstone
The Ubyssey

 

AL #Don'tForgetStudents petition
sking the Canadian government

to include post-secondary students and
recent graduates in the Canada Emergency
Response Benefit (CERB) continues to gain
traction, the AMS has added its voice to
the call.

On April 16, the Undergraduates of
Canadian Research-Intensive Universities
(UCRU)—which represents student unions
at research-focused universities across
Canada, including the AMS—published
a report based on 3,157 survey responses
about how the COVID-19 pandemic was
impacting student finances.

According to AMS VP External and
UCRU Chair Cristina IInitchi, the report’s
main ask is for the federal government
to provide an immediate solution for
“imminent summer expenses” incurred by
domestic and international students as well
as new graduates.

“Without anticipated summer income
these expenses will be impossible to meet
in a matter of weeks. And, this is our ask
of government that [...] a mechanism is
created to get students that immediate
financial assistance that they need,” she
said.

According to the survey’s findings, 83
percent of respondents said they did not
meet the eligibility requirements for CERB
released on March 25.

CERB requires an applicant to have an
income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the
past 12 months prior to their application.
Additionally, workers must have lost their
job as a result of the pandemic, be eligible
for Employment Insurance (EI) regular or

sickness benefits or have run out of EI.

“If you are looking for a job but haven't
stopped working because of COVID-19, you
are not eligible for the benefit. For example,
if you area student who had a job last year
and were planning on working this summer
you do not qualify for the benefit,” reads a
description on CERB’s website.

In an emailed statement to The
Ubyssey, Marielle Hossack a spokesperson
from Minister Carla Qualtrough’s office
wrote that finding ways to support those
who do not qualify for CERB was “an
absolute priority” for the government.

“We recognize how this pandemic
closely coincides with the end of the
school year for university students and
graduates, and the stress this is causing,”
wrote the Hossack.

“While many post-secondary students
are currently eligible for the CERB, we will
continue to work to find ways to support
those Canadians who do not qualify.”

UCRU wrote in their report that the
exclusion of students from the COVID

emergency benefit has resulted in many
students “falling through the cracks” trying
to meet immediate financial obligations.

“A majority of students were expecting
fulltime summer employment to pay for
their expenses during the summer and
throughout the following academic year;
currently there is no support to fill that
gap,’ reads the report.

According to UCRU, 73 percent of
respondents expressed worries about
paying for summer rent and utilities and
71 percent worried about the ability to
pay for groceries. Additionally, 79 percent
reported being concerned about paying for
fall tuition.

At UBC, students have previously
expressed concerns about CERB’s exclusion
of students, with the Gender, Race,
Sexuality and Social Justice Undergraduate
Association creating an online petition to
raise awareness in early April.

At the Board of Governors meeting
on April 16, UBC President Santa Ono
said UBC is collaborating with the U15

 

Group of Canadian Research Universities
to ask for additional support for students
from the federal government, including
by “advocating for widened eligibility for
CERB,” among other asks.

Initchi confirmed that UCRU is keeping
in close communication with U15 and
Universities Canada about joint priorities,
but UCRU’s statement was meant to focus
on highlighting how many students are still
in need of immediate financial assistance.

“Beyond anything else, if students
carrt pay for their rent, their groceries and
have immediate living expenses right now,
all other pieces are important but not as
immediate as these kinds of most basic
needs.”

On April 15, Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau announced that CERB would
be expanded to include essential and
seasonal workers, as well as those who
have run out of EI. He also hinted that an
announcement related to concerns from
university students is on its way.

“For others who still need help,
including post-secondary students and
businesses worried about commercial rent,
we'll have more to say to you very soon,”
Trudeau said in a press briefing yesterday.

According to IInitchi, they have
not been made aware of a timeline for
additional announcements. But, UCRU
and the AMS hope the government will
address the immediate and long-term
policy solutions they have outlined.

“We've moved to an online public
campaign to let the government know
that [...] there are major gaps in support
for students right now and we need to get
them that funding immediately. This is not
something that can wait.”