Liberal deficit gives big payout to students

> Budget 2016 addresses student loans and young employment

Mercedes Deutscher
News Editor

 

he Liberal government

released their 2016 budget,
titled “Growing the Middle
Class,” on March 22, compiled by
Finance Minister Bill Morneau.

The budget racked up a
deficit of $29.4 billion, and is not
expected to reach a surplus prior
to the next federal election.

The budget took Canada’s
first major step towards providing
universal post-secondary
education to students. Under
the Trudeau government, those
who have graduated post-
secondary who do not earn
more than $25,000 annually will
not be required to pay off their
student loans. This will come
into effect at the beginning
of the 2016-17 school year.

The government will
also be introducing flat-rate
student contribution. This
is particularly beneficial to
students who work in addition

to attending post-secondary,
who often receive limited
assistance due to their income.

In addition to freezing
interest rates on student loans,
low-income students will also
benefit from an increased number
of grants, with students now being
eligible for up to $3,000 annually.
Middle-income students will also
qualify for up to $1,200 annually.
Part-time students may also
qualify for $1,200-1,800 in grants.

“Now more than ever, it is
important that post-secondary
education remains affordable
and accessible, and that young
Canadians have access to
meaningful work at the beginning
of their careers,” read the budget.

However, in order to fund
the post-secondary proposals
brought forth in the budget, the
government will be removing
Education Tax Credit and the
Textbook Tax Credit at the
start of 2017—although the tax
credits prior to 2017 may still
be claimed in the future.

Recent sexual assaults
prompt RCMP action

> RCMP develops task force to investigate string of

The decision to eliminate
the tax credits is disappointing
to some, especially those who
pay higher tuition fees.

“Tax credits are related to the
actual tuition that you pay, but
the grant is based on an average
of undergraduate fees,” Marcus
McCann, a recently practicing
lawyer who fought against high
tuition fees during his time in law
school, said to the Globe and Mail.
“There's time for policy makers
to have a think on what this
means for professional students,
including law and medicine.”

Ina similar sentiment,
Viviane Bartlett, the interim
executive director of CASA,
expressed concern for the
removal of the tax credit.

“It’s great that it’s being
reinvested in grants, but grad
students don’t get federal grants,”
Bartlett told the Globe and Mail.

Students and youth, who are
twice as likely to be unemployed
compared to older populations,
will have more opportunity

"

 

to employment under the

new budget. The amount of

government funding for the Youth

Employment Strategy will increase

from $330 million to $495.4

million within the next year.
Special initiatives will

open up for youth to enter the

environmental and heritage

sectors. Technology, science,

and engineering companies will

also receive more incentives to

open up co-operative positions,

a

Image via thinkstock

receiving $14 million annually
to support these positions.

As well, additional
opportunities will be opened to
disabled and indigenous youth.

These job opportunities
do not include the already-
existing Canada Summer Jobs
Program, which will maintain an
annual budget of $339 million.

Altogether, these initiatives
and opportunities will open
up an expected 40,000 jobs.

Douglas organization seeks to
raise awareness of homeless
women’s health issues

> Periods on the Street devoted to menstrual causes

sexual assaults on Burnaby

Sarah Finley
The Peak (Simon Fraser University)

 

Sn January 29, five sexual
assaults have occurred on Burnaby
Mountain and in the greater Burnaby
area, prompting the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police to form an official task
force to investigate. According to Staff
Sergeant Major John Buis, a sexual
assault spree of this calibre has never
before happened in the Burnaby area.
The first assault took place
on January 29, and the next ones
occurred on February 18, March
1, March 5, and March 6.
During the March 1 attack, an
unknown male attacked a woman on
Springer Avenue while she was walking

home from a Hastings Street bus stop at

1:55 a.m. Approaching her from behind,

he attempted to pull her into the bushes.

Fortunately, she was able to fight

him off, causing him to flee northbound.

The suspect is described as a Caucasian
male, taller than 58” with a medium
build, and wearing dark clothing.

The most recent assault took place

in the middle of the day at 2:50 p.m. The

suspect, described as a white, 5’7” male

wearing a soft dark hoodie, attempted to

sexually assault a woman while she was

walking on a popular trail near the Lake

City Way SkyTrain station. The suspect
once again was a stranger to the victim.
Luckily, a man whom the police

referred to as a Good Samaritan noticed
the attack and was able to scare the
man away. Police are searching for the
Good Samaritan, who is estimated to be
around 50-60 years old, asking him to

come forward to help their investigation.

The survivor of this assault is
receiving treatment in the hospital.

According to an RCMP police
report released on March 7, it is “too
early to say if the incidents are linked,”
but the “similar characteristics” of
the assaults are what prompted the
creation of the task force. According
to Sergeant Major Buis, the similarities
are that “the suspect targeted women
who were alone in areas where
there were not many people.”

The force is led by investigators
from Burnaby’s Serious Crime
Section. Additionally, the RCMP
has partnered with the Vancouver
Police Department, collaborating
on recent sexual assault cases.

The RCMP would like to remind
Burnaby citizens to be vigilant when
walking alone on trails, as well as
walking alone at nighttime. Sergeant
Major Buis is “confident” that the
RCMP will catch the suspect soon.
In the meantime, the Community
Response Team is increasing bike
patrols on trails, and General Duty
Officers have partnered with Transit
Police to “conduct more, highly
visible patrols in and around transit
stops and stations at night.”

Cazzy Lewchuk
Staff Writer

 

A Douglas charitable organization,
eriods on the Street, seeks to raise
awareness and donations for feminine
hygiene in the homeless population.
Inspired after a gender studies
course, several students got together
for this charitable cause to help out
with an important issue that many do
not consider. The ultimate goal of the
organization is to raise awareness for
women’s health issues, and to raise funds
to purchase feminine hygiene products
such as tampons for homeless women.

While many health products are
distributed for free to both homeless
and non-homeless populations, such as
condoms, feminine-specific products are
often forgotten. According to Amanda
Proctor, a member of the group, their
ultimate goal is to expand beyond
the college and make these products
as freely available as possible.

“If condoms are free, why not
tampons?” asked Proctor.

So far, fundraising for Periods on the
Street has raised over $250 via a bake sale.
To donate or find out more about the
cause, tweet @periodsonthestreet or get in
touch with the founder, Fariba Davoody
at periodsonthestreet@gmail.com

  

Image via thinkstock