Canadians see value, quality in post-secondary education: polls By Emma Godmere, CUP Ottawa Bureau Chief OTTAWA (CUP)—Two new Ipsos-Reid polls released last week suggest that a majority of Canadians are pleased with the quality of their post-secondary institutions and agree that higher education is crucial for success. When asked to describe the overall quality of Canadian colleges and universities, 71 per cent of respondents rated it good or excellent in the first poll. Only three per cent suggested that post-secondary education in this country could be considered poor or very poor. However, only about a third of Canadians felt the quality of the country’s institutions had actually improved over the last decade. The second poll focused on Canadians’ views of the importance of post-secondary education as a tool for success: 78 per cent indicated that it will grow more important to finish a degree or diploma in the next five to 10 years in order to enjoy success in life. Interestingly, only 14 per cent of respondents said they were likely to or that they definitely would pursue higher education themselves in the next few years. Additionally, almost two thirds of Canadians indicated that the current economy had no impact over decisions to pursue post-secondary studies. When those who weren’t planning on enrolling in university or college programs were asked what reasons brought them to that decision, only 24 per cent said that the cost of education was indeed an issue, while 35 per cent said their principal reason was simply a lack of desire to return to studies. Out of those who were intending to pursue higher education, obtaining credentials, career opportunities, and career advancement were the top three reasons to pick up studies in the next few years. Each poll surveyed a sample of 1,493 adults online from October 20-28. According to Ipsos-Reid, results were weighted to balance demographics and more accurately reflect the makeup of the Canadian population. Before weighting, the survey’s margin of error was estimated at +2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Depressed woman’s benefits removed due to pictures on Facebook Tanya Colledge staff reporter hen Nathalie Blanchard’s doctor advised her to try and have some fun to help with her diagnosed case of depression, she never imagined that it would have resulted in losing her medical benefits. Blanchard, a 29-year-old woman from Bromont, Quebec, has been on sick leave from her job at IBM for the past year and a half after she was diagnosed with major depression. She had been receiving monthly sick leave benefits from her insurance company, Manulife, until this fall, when the payments suddenly dried up. When she called Manulife to investigate the situation, her insurance agent described that several photos posted on Facebook of her having a good time at a bar for her birthday and at the beach on holiday, were evidence that she was no longer depressed and was well enough to return to work. Blanchard was shocked that the insurance company would look into her case in such a manner, interpret her photos and make assumptions about her condition. Furthermore, Blanchard’s privacy settings on the popular social networking site prohibit unknown users to have access to the photos posted on her profile page. Blanchard is now seeking legal action against Manulife in an attempt to reinstate her disability payments and receive the estimated $1,000 in lost funds since the ordeal began. The insurance company confirmed that they use Facebook in order to examine clients’ cases because it is easily accessible information that simply cannot be ignored. This case is a harsh reminder that Internet postings, no matter how many privacy settings you may have in place, are never truly private. This is not the first time that the social networking site has been in the news around privacy issues—users are warned to be cautious when posting pictures or personal information on their accounts. benefits The photo that cost Nathalie Blanchard Free public skating rink re-opens after nearly a decade Thanks to a $2 million facelift, the Robson Square rink is once again running By Kristina Mameli, News Editor fter being closed for nearly a decade, the Robson As public skating rink is once again open in the heart of downtown Vancouver. The rink officially re-opened last Monday thanks to upgrades worth nearly $2 million. The outdoor rink opened in 1983, but due to maintenance issues, was forced to close in 2000. As part of the $40 million renovation of the-entire Robson Square complex, which is currently finishing up, the rink was given a much needed facelift. The rink has temporarily been renamed the GE Plaza after General Electric paid for about a third ($700,000) of the upgrade. The name will remain until the end of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games in March, until which time it will act as a centrepiece for B.C.’s activities. The new surface of the ice is 37 per cent larger than the old one and features a winter themed light show — blue lights with snowflakes floating across the ice. The ice will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Skate rentals are available for $3, helmets for $2, or free for children and the cost of admission is free. Olympic Minister Mary McNeil told News1130 that she expects the rink to be open for three to four moths a year, despite Vancouver’s notoriously mild winters. The first to break in the new ice was Canadian 2008 world champion figure skater Jeffrey Buttle. His performance was followed by a family skate with the Olympic mascots. Free concerts as well as other events will be held at the rink during the Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games in February and March. In the meantime, the rink is open to those wanting to take a break from their holiday shopping and participate in their own winter Olympic wonderland. lw] News Shorts By Kristina Mameli H1N1 Report: B.C. As of this writing, there have been four more recent HIN1 related deaths in B.C. over the last week. The deaths were spread out over several different health regions from the Interior to Vancouver Island. The H1N1 vaccine is now available to all British Columbians following a lull in the vaccine’s demand. Just over one million British Columbians have been vaccinated thus far and health authorities are urging the rest to get the shot to help prevent the third wave of the _ pandemic. There are currently 109 severe cases of the flu in the province with a total of 34 confirmed deaths of which 29 had underlying health problems. That includes the most recent deaths. For more information about H1N1 and the vaccine, see www.gov.bc.ca/hIn1 or visit the Vancouver Island Health Authority’s website at www.viha.ca. Supreme Court broadens scope of Pickton’s appeal The Supreme Court of Canada allowed convicted serial killer Robert Pickton’s lawyers to broaden the scope of his appeal Thursday. The court gave no reasons for the decision which allows Pickton’s lawyers more room to argue that his conviction should be overturned. Pickton wants a new trial but was rejected in a split decision by a lower court. Pickton was sentenced to life in prison with no parole in 2007 on six counts of second degree murder. He is charged with 20 more. Two Vancouver landmarks to be shut down...could be the first of many The Vancouver Park Board voted Wednesday to shut down two Vancouver landmarks in response to a budget shortfall of over $2 million. The children’s farmyard at Stanley Park and the Bloedel Conservatory at Queen Elizabeth Park have fallen victim to the economy. Mercifully, the farmyard won’t close until homes can be found for all of the animals. Same goes for the birds and plants at the Conservatory which is slated to close March 1. It looks as if the same fate may befall branches of the Vancouver Public Library as trustees try todeal | with a $1.3 million budget shortfall. They have already voted to reduce operating hours, staffing and budgets at up to 14 branches, and may be closing the Riley Park branch as soon as January. Those decisions go to the council and will be open for discussion December 3. Rogers Canada cuts 900 jobs Rogers Communications, the largest wireless carrier in Canada cut 900 jobs Thursday---a total of 3 per cent of their 30,000 employees. The cuts affected mostly middle management positions nationwide. The company is based in Toronto and a spokesman said that the cuts were made in anticipation of other communications giants soon doing the same. Harper to attend climate change meeting A day after saying he would not be going to the climate change meeting next month in Copenhagen, Prime Minister Stephen Harper decided that he would be going after all. The announcement came Thursday from his spokesman after President Barack Obama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said they’d be in attendance. The conference takes places December 7-11 and will include at least 65 world leaders. Obama will stop over on the 9" before heading to Oslo to accept his Nobel peace Prize. Canada has faced international criticism for refusing to sign a new deal limiting greenhouse gases unless developing nations are included.