BC Budget Offers Little to Post-Secondary Students Bryna Hallam, CUP British Columbia Bureau Chief VICTORIA (CUP)—The BC government’s new budget focus on children does not extend to post-secondary stu- dents. Released on February 21, the budget “has some good news for students, but not a whole lot for students over- all,” said Lisa MacLeod, BC chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. Among the good news, said MacLeod, is an increase of about $26 million in core funding and maintenance of a cap on tuition fee increases to the rate of inflation for the remaining three years of the Liberals’ term. “We were hoping for a reduction in tuition fees, but it’s a good sign that they’ve made a commitment to this [the cap] and they’ve attached some funding to it,” she said. Tuition fees have nearly doubled in the province since 2001, when the Liberal government ended a six-year freeze on tuition fees. Average tuition fees in BC are $4,874 for 2005-06. The budget features a total of $161 million new funds for post-secondary education over the next four years. Of that, $145 million is additional operating funding to help create 25,000 new student spaces by 2010. The govern- ment is also focusing on increasing skills training. “We have listened to the calls of industry to offer more creative incentives to encourage skills training,” said Finance Minister Carole Taylor during the budget speech. “So today, Budget 2006 allocates $90 million in tax credits over three years to encourage business to be part of the solution, and help government meet the challenge of train- ing our workforce—in both our traditional sectors and emerging industries.” MacLeod acknowledged the need for more skilled workers, but said they were looking for “a more compre- hensive strategy” to address the issue. According to MacLeod, enrolment at colleges in BC has declined over the past few years, and completion rates of skilled trades and apprenticeship programs are down 44 opnewseditor@gmail.com percent since 2001—trends she attributes to increased tuition. “T think it’s a pretty clear parallel to draw,” she said. “Tuition fees are going up, enrolment is declining, and so we really need the government to do something to create access.” Other groups, notably the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of BC (CUFA/BC) and the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC (FPSE), have echoed that view. Cindy Oliver, president of FPSE, expressed her disap- pointment in the budget, saying “the most disturbing part of this budget for post-secondary students is the absence of any help for students.” CUFA/BC issued a report card on the government’s post-secondary performance; they earned grades in the C to B+ range. The group also criticized the government for its failure to develop an effective student financial assistance system to increase access to education, noting that despite increased funding, less money is going to student assis- tance now than in 2003-04. On the positive side, they said the “future looks prom- ising” in terms of creating more spaces for students. Other spending includes one-time investments to create a new World Centre for Digital Media Education and a new Natural Resources and Applied Science endowment. Funding for those projects totals $50 million and $40.5 million respectively. Hundreds Rally in Vancouver Against Racist Cartoons Shannon Bundock, OP Contributor the Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist.” —Canadian Press, February 19, 2006 “Downtown Vancouver was filled with the sound of Islamic chanting on Saturday as hundreds gathered to peacefully protest Danish newspaper cartoons depicting Imam Ijazi from the Shia Mosque in Richmond, SFU student Brother Osama, Ivan Drury of Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO), and Imam Fohd of the Zawiya Foundation. All of the speakers expressed their opposition to the cartoons as an attack on the dignity and honor of Muslim Over 400 people joined together on February 18, for a protest organized by several Mosques and Muslim organizations throughout the Lower Mainland, alongside the anti-war coali- tion Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO). The racist cartoons come at a time when the US is stepping up threats to Iran and is continuing to lead a brutal war and occupation in Iraq. At the same time, Canada is a leading force in the occupation of Afghanistan and Israel is continuing suppression and occupa- tion against the self-determination of the Palestinian people. These attacks on Muslim people through Islamophobic propaganda are only one branch of the war that is wreaking havoc on numerous Muslim countries. The resonant theme throughout the demonstration was one of unity of oppressed people—Muslim and non-Muslim—against the attacks. Speakers included Dr. Aziz Khakhi, a member of the Committee for Racial Justice, people. “Tam not Muslim. So why am I here?” asked Ivan Drury. “Well, I am here because in this era of war and occupation this racist attack is attempting to drive a wedge between oppressed people. We must unite with our Muslim brothers and sisters and stand against these cartoons and the forces behind them, as forces of division, forces of humiliation, degradation of dignity, and racist, hateful propaganda.” The rally gained wide media attention from around Canada, and was covered by CT'V, Global BC, Canadian Press, and major Vancouver newspapers such as Metro, 24, and The Province. “We are protesting because we are hurt, said Dr. Khakhi. “We have been insulted. Our dignity has been lowered down. Freedom of the press does not include the right to insult religious sentiments.”