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Sanders discusses health care and power U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders talks American health care and how wealth affects politics and power ALICIA BOATTO NEWS EDITOR United States Senator Bernie Sanders delivered a keynote address at the University of Toronto discussing the importance of universal healthcare and how American congress can learn from Canada’s healthcare system. Sanders has been a vocal supporter of Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act and reforming America’s healthcare system to cover more American citizens. Sanders’ visit to the university comes as part of a larger visit to Canada to learn more about the intricacies of the Canadian healthcare system. Held at the Convocation Hall on Sunday, Sanders stated that while Canada’s healthcare system is not perfect, countries should be looking for ways to improve their systems. “No country in the world has all of the answers and never will as technology changes, as needs change. And sensible policies, as the president of this university made the point, we
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Sanders addressed a full crowd at Convocation Hall at the St. George campus. look all over the world and we ask the hard questions; is it working better there? What can we do to make our system better?”
According to Sanders, over 28 million Americans currently have no health insurance, with many more Americans being underinsured and
unable to pay high deductibles. He also highlighted the work of Tommy Douglas, the Premier of Saskatchewan in 1944, as his plan for a
new Medicare system in his province became the model for Canada’s current healthcare plan. Sanders went on to discuss how having billionaires in high political office creates a disparity between the government and the needs of the people. “Real change, it never happens from the top on down,” he said. “Real change always happens, from the bottom on up.” The U.S. Senator criticized America’s current political situation, as wealthy political groups aim to influence elections by giving large sums of money to extreme-right wing candidates who further promote the needs of the rich, specifically citing the Koch brothers, a wealthy business family known for their strong political ties . “They are spending enormous amounts of money. They have taken the Republican party from what used to be what we call a center-right party to a right-wing extremist party,” he stated. Sanders continued on page 3
Past UTMSU president hired for new position Former 2015/16 UTMSU president, Uranranebi Agebeyegbe, is now the new campaigns coordinator ALICIA BOATTO NEWS EDITOR Former president of the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union, Uranranebi Agbeyegbe, who is currently a non-UTM student, was hired into the newly created position of campaigns and communications coordinator. According to UTMSU’s president Salma Fakhry in an email to The Medium, the hiring processes for full-time staff was organized through “relevant networks and not-forprofit jobs bulletins.” The job posting was advertised through a site called Charity Village. Fakhry also stated that previous experience with the UTMSU is not required, but experience with a non-profit organization would have been an asset. “The UTMSU has, for years, wanted and needed a position focused on campaigns, research, and volunteer network development. The process was initiated by the previous executive and board and a hiring committee was struck by the board last year,” UTMSU’s president wrote in response to why the position was
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Agbeyegbe holds the newly created staff position of Campaigns and Communications Coordinator. deemed necessary for this year. Fakhry did not directly address The Medium’s questions on the specific responsibilities of Agbeyegbe’s position. “The hiring process was open
for all to apply, skills were evaluated above all, and we looked at proven history of campaign organizing, research compilation, and volunteer management,” she added. Referring to having non-UTM
students hold paid positions, Abdulla Omari, formerly on the UTMSU board of directors in 2015 stated, “Having a position of full-time that is a non-student, changes that structure and that dynamic. I still remember
being a volunteer and sitting in the room with these 26-year olds trying to plan things, and it’s intimidating. And to have a man who’s, again, no longer a student managing these things, means students inherently have less input, students inherently have less voice.” According to Omari, the choice to establish a new full-time staff position goes through the executive committee, then the board of directors to ratify the decision and establish the salary that is given to full-time staff. “We really did try to make an honest effort to avoid having full-time staff taking things students could be doing, especially when we’re paying them with their own money. So, for me, when I look at this position, I’m seeing a non-student making a salary wage for a job that was accomplished before by four students,” Omari stated about his time in office. Omari said that there has been discussion of a campaigns and committee coordinator in the past, which was reviewed during his time as a board member. Staff continued on page 2