EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: THOMAS MULCAIR, PAGE 6
NOISE TERRORISTS INVADE MONTREAL, PAGE 16
T h e M c G ill
ublished by the Students' Society of McGill University
www.mcgilltribune.com
Volume 28 Issue 3 • September 16,2008
Silverman begins Obamania hits McGill undergrad union 3S A C f u n d i n g o f f i c e o n U n iv e r s it y S t r e e t T h o m a s Q u a il
Former Students' Society Vice-President External Max Silverman's unlergraduate labour union campaign went public last Thursday at activities light. Despite tense relations between the McGill administration and cam)us unions recently, Silverman believes that now is the time to act. "This association is about protecting undergrads in the workplace. Eviryone we talk to agrees: this is something that needs to be done," Silvernan said. The idea crystallized last March while Silverman was still in office. In his apacity as VP External, a few students approached him—two work-study tudents, one research assistant—with union plans. Fortunately for them, Silverman had intended to work with the Public Service Alliance of Canada, a union, over the summer. "It was a wonderful confluence of events," Silverman said. After the students chose PSAC as their union, Silverman was then se eded as the liaison between PSAC and his nascent student union at McGill: he Association of McGill Undergraduate Student Employees. PSAC is funding the operation by renting an office on University Street md covering additional costs. Forming the union, however, will be difficult. According to Quebec la>our laws, work associations must obtain the names of 35 to 50 per cent
See AM U SE on Page 2
M c G ill S tu d e n ts fo r O b a m a u n ite t o p r o m o te th e ir c a n d id a te a t a c tiv itie s n ig h t, w h ile C a n a d ia n c a m p u s p o litic a l g ro u p s ra lly s u p p o r t fo r th e u p c o m in g fe d e ra l e le c tio n . S ee s to ry b e lo w .
Campus political groups prepare for election O c to b e r
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C a n a d ia n v o t e b u i l d s o n e n e r g y o f c a n c e lle d b y - e l e c t io n s
A n d r e w S eo
With only a month remaining until Canada's federal elec tion, McGill's campus political groups were in full swing at last Thursday's activities night in an effort to recruit volunteers and sway potential voters. While the official election notice came as a surprise for most Canadians, political groups on campus were not startled by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's an nouncement. "We weren't really surprised by the election call as there were a lot of rumours and signals that this would happen. It doesn't really change our plans by much but we'll definitely be out there organizing our volunteers, postering, and making our presence known," said Stephanie Chouliareas, Vice-Presi
dent of Events at Liberal McGill. Aleana Young, Co-President of NDP McGill, seemed the least surprised by the announcement of the impending elec tion, which will be held October 14. "We were already in election mode since the summer which resulted in [NDP MP] Thomas Mulcair's win in Outremont—a former Liberal stronghold for over 70 years," Young said. A by-election was scheduled to be held on September 8 in the Westmount—Ville-Marie riding, but was abruptly can celled with last week's call for a general election. Representatives of campus political groups were also eager to voice plans for an inter-party debate to be held among student leaders during the lead-up to the election.
McGill students can expect plenty of controversial issues to be debated as representatives from these groups were already keen on discussing a number of relevant issues, including stu dent debt and the environment. "Dion's Green Shift plan is good in theory but when you look at the specific details of the platform it just doesn't add up," said Chris Hunter, VP External of Conservative McGill. The federal Liberal party has received considerable flak from other parties concerning its environmental platform, which seeks to balance a carbon tax with income-tax cuts. Ac cording to Olivier Coulombe, Director of Clubs at Young Liber als of Canada (Quebec), however, the Liberals aren't concerned
See STUDENT VOTE on Page 3
FILL TH E STADIUM F o o tb a ll S e p t. 19 1 9 h 0 0 B is h o p ’s G a ite rs vs. M c G ill R e d m e n M o lso n T ailg a te & C on cert at I 6 h 3 0 - M o lso n S tadium
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SPORTS SHOP Special of th e week:
McGill Classic T-Shirts $15
Soccer Sept. 18 18h 00 (M artlets) 2 0 h 0 0 (Redm en) - M olson Stadium
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