NEWS

Irving Layton Dies at 83 Poet and teacher passed away as a literary icon in Canada

Nicole Burton, News Editor

opnewseditor@gmail.com

Well-known East Coast poet Irving Layton ended his 12-year battle with Alzheimer’s dis- ease last week, passing away at the age of 93. Layton was renowned for reinventing the lit- erary landscape in 20th century Canada, par- ticularly in the realm of poetry and creative writing.

Layton’s family settled in Quebec from Romania, and he grew up in the densely populated and rapidly industrializing city of Montreal. Kicked out of high school for his political ideas as a teenager, Layton’s rise in poetry came from the harsh life of living poor in the city. Expressing his ideas through writing stuck with him for more than 70 years.

As he grew in prominence across Canada, he began to step out of the limited and academic world of literature and into

became known as “Mr. Fighting Words” on CBC Television, slamming government offi- cials and policies and gaining international recognition. His work became more popular and was widely read across Italy, Germany, Spain, and South Korea.

Layton taught for a number of years at Concordia and tenured as a professor at York University. He taught Modern English and American poetry.

Over his lifetime, he wrote more than 40 books and was awarded several prestigious titles, including a nomination for the Nobel Prize in literature in 1982. One of his most famous quotes is not without his own noto- rious self-indulgence: “I am a genius who has written poems that will survive with the best of Shakespeare, Wordsworth, and Keats.”

political discussion and public life. He

Federal Elections Scrapbook The two top parties duke it out—with little to offer

Nicole Burton, News Editor

Since the fall of the Liberals’ minority government in November 2005, the road to a winter election has led to, what some are referring to as, a “Battle of the Billions” between the major political parties—promising measures related to education, jobs, immigration, and taxes. While there is legally no guarantee that binds officials to their election promises once they are in office, the flurry of fis- cal pledges continues to fly.

In a desperate attempt to raise the percentage of young voters above 25 percent, some specific offerings are actually directed towards us! Despite this, the posi- tions of both political parties leading in the polls have young people unimpressed on a number of issues. Here are some of the important topics being discussed as the countdown to January 23rd continues.

This week, the Liberals announced reductions in tuition fees for post-secondary students across Canada, including a total of $7 billion towards tuition relief and job training. Prime Minister and Liberal leader Paul Martin has stated that this would result in a financial aid package of as much as $3000 over four years for low- income students. Money is also being allocated towards the quality of education: $3.5 billion for “skills develop- ment,” and colleges and universities would have access to $1 billion for building construction and renovations.

Student leaders are saying that if the Liberals expect to see student support, they’re simply barking up the wrong tree. Many contend that the amount of money being “given” to students doesn’t add up to the amounts students have had to unrightfully fork over in the last decade.

“Students are still worse off under the Liberal plan today than they were when the Liberals formed govern- ment in 1993,” said George Soule, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students.

“By not restoring billions of dollars in core funding that was cut during the 1990s, the Liberal Party’s strategy falls short.”

The Conservative Party has generally maintained its position as the least popular party in Canada among stu- dents and young voters, particularly for its position on

same-sex marriage, the creation and tightening of immi- gration laws, and the push for military spending.

On January 5th, Steven Harper announced a package of new plans encompassing “a broad series of justice reforms.” This would include increases in prison sen- tences and punishment against young people through the Youth Criminal Justice Act, and stripping away even more security from immigrants and refugees communities who face deportation.

While a major campaign promise is the reduction of GST from 7 to 5 percent, the Conservatives have pro- moted further increases to the Canadian military budget, already set to double from 2005’s Federal Budget. In a tecent report prepared for the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, the Polaris Institute has stated that this increase is “alarming” and unmatched in Canada’s history of military spending since the WWII years.

The Report states that “The Government of Canada should conduct a full, public review of Canadian defense policy and freeze further spending increases pending the outcome of that review.”

This week, Elections Canada is beginning its publicity push for students and youth to show up at the polls. A total of 347 polling stations have been placed on or near university and college campuses around the country, according to Chief Electoral Officer of Canada Jean Pierre Kingsley, “to serve students and other electors who reside in those particular polling divisions.”

Aside from posters and election guides, you can find more information on voting and Election Day employ- ment opportunities at www.elections.ca.