1 February 2017

Trudeau challenged news

Activists confront PM at town hall

Page 3

comment

features

Oil mongers be gone

Under the golden boy

The new economy is green, fully employed Page 9

A day of provincial politics Page 12

sports

Highway series Bison volleyball teams on the road in Brandon Page 23

Vo l 1 0 2 · N o 2 1 · F e b r ua ry 1 , 2 0 1 7 · w w w.t h e m a n i to b a n .co m

Index

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VOL. 103 NO. 21 February 1, 2017

Editor-in-Chief Craig Adolphe

editor@themanitoban.com / 474.8293

Business manager Daniel Parys

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Advertising Coordinator Vacant

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Editorial

Managing Editor Lauren Siddall

me@themanitoban.com

News Editor Garett Williams

news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

News Editor Levi Garber

sports

levi@themanitoban.com/ 474.6770

Hot streak

comment@themanitoban.com

Comment Editor Shawn Garbutt

Bisons complete sweep of Timberwolves for eighth straight win page 23

science & technology Editor Malak Abas

science@themanitoban.com

arts & Culture Editor Tobi Nifesi

arts@themanitoban.com

Sports Editor Ryan Stelter

sports@themanitoban.com

Copy Editor Sarah Doran

copy@themanitoban.com

Design

Design Editor Bram Keast

science

Winnipeg Versus Mars

Where would you rather be?

design@themanitoban.com

Graphics Editor Kelly Campbell

graphics@themanitoban.com

Photo Editor Miguel Yetman

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Design associate Kellie Huynh graphics associate Aldo Rios pHOTO associate Chantal Zdan pHOTO associate Star Roxas

page 14

pHOTO associate Megan Colwell

Reporters

arts

Bring new music Forth

Festival for experimental music takes over Exchange coffee shop page 17

News Osho Samuel Adetunji News Diana Ubokudom News Seamus Hamilton-Pattison Columnist Jeremiah Kopp Columnist Shaden Abusaleh arts & culture Olivia Michalczuk arts & culture Emelia Fournier Sports Kellen Taniguchi Sports Jason Pchajek Copy Joseph Gonzalez

Volunteer Contributors

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Check the Manitoban’s website and Facebook page for: • • •

an interview with Toronto Star columnist Paul Wells a feature interview with Brent Butt a stream of the media Q&A with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from last week's town hall

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News

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News Editors: Garett Williams & Levi Garber Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Pipeline protestors interrupt Trudeau town hall in Winnipeg Young activists demand answers for pipeline approvals Seamus Hamilton-Pattison, staff

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rime Minister Justin Trudeau faced off with a small group of pipeline protesters at a town hall event at the University of Winnipeg’s Duckworth Centre on Jan. 26.

The interruption came during the Liberal’s response to a concern expressed by an audience member regarding his government’s recent approval of both the Kinder Morgan TransMountain pipeline expansion and Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline.

The approved pipelines will pump nearly a million more barrels of oil a day from Alberta’s oil sands to refineries in the U.S. and British Columbian ports when completed.

“No real concrete, measurable promises were made” – Mandalyn Unger, protester Trudeau heard the concerns about the approved pipelines and their environmental impact from a young audience member not long after beginning the town hall event.

“Given that many countries have drastically reinvented their energy systems to accommodate for climate change – countries like Sweden and Costa Rica are now powered 100 per cent by renewables – and the cost of oil is at an all-time low. And yet, Canada is still approving pipelines,” the audience member said.

“I don’t know if you understand the degree to which you are alienating the young voters and progressives who voted you in.”

The end of the question was nearly drowned out by cheering from many other audience members, some of whom behind and to the prime minister’s right stood up holding signs bearing slogans such as “No KXL, No line three, No Kinder Morgan,” and “Water is sacred. No pipelines” among others.

Trudeau repeatedly asked several protesters standing with their signs and interrupting his response with chants of “climate leaders don’t build pipelines,” and “keep it in the ground,” for permission to continue with his answer to the question, which began with a speech on the importance of balancing environmental responsibilities with a productive economy.

The prime minister cited pipelines as a safer method of transportation than rail.

As the event ground to a temporary halt, two protesters continued to shout at Trudeau, while other audience members voiced their own objection to the protesters’ methods. In a particularly tense moment, Trudeau recommended the protesters either allow him permission to finish

photos by miguel yetman

his question, or leave the room.

After the protestors refused, an Indigenous elder present stood up and began to approach the prime minister, requesting a respectful exchange between parties. Trudeau seemed alarmed by the man’s approach and exclaimed, “Stay seated sir, sit down please, you’re going to get tackled.”

Trudeau eventually finished his

answer, stressing that Canada must balance renewable, environmentallyfriendly methods of accruing natural resources with the need for a productive economy and good job creation.

He mentioned the provincial government of Alberta’s agreement to cap oil sands emissions and move to performance-based standards of taxing carbon as steps forward.

Mandalyn Unger, a representative of Indigenous Peoples] and he’s not of the group of around 10 protesters only not implemented it, he’s broken made up mostly of U of W students – it with the approval of the pipeline.” which she described to the Manitoban Following his answer on the recent as “a grassroots anti-pipeline collec- pipeline approvals, Trudeau faced tive” made up of concerned com- questions for the next hour from munity members – expressed her audience members on issues such disappointment with Trudeau and as reconciliation with Indigenous the event as a whole, referring to it communities, Manitoba Child and as “a bit of an echo chamber, [with] Family Services, Syrian refugees, and a lot of copy-paste answers.”

Donald Trump, among others.

“No real concrete, measurable The event in Winnipeg was the promises were made, which obvi- 10th and last stop of Trudeau’s crossously he had been told to avoid. Our country town hall tour, as Parliament goal wasn’t really to get him to speak resumes this week in Ottawa. the truth, because we knew he wasn’t going to – our goal was to make sure An archived livestream of Trudeau’s he knew that we knew that he was pre-town hall Q&A with the media bullshitting us.” can be found on the Manitoban’s Though Unger expressed some Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ disappointment with the overall themanitoban audience reception to the protest, she stressed it was not surprising and further enforces the movement’s goals. “[The prime minister’s] PR is so onpoint, they’re such a polished brand.

I feel like people can really become caught up in the emotions of identifying themselves with this young prime minister who presents as being all about change,” said Unger.

“That’s really the battle here, is breaking through that façade and that image, and letting people know these promises are hollow [...] he campaigned on the promise that he would implement [the United Nations Declaration on the Rights

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News

News Editors: Garett Williams & Levi Garber Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

“It’s a balancing act”: Paul Wells on Trudeau’s relationship with Trump Political commentator discusses need to balance Canadian values, trading relationship Levi Garber, staff

photo provided by soraya atayee

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he Trudeau government will have a tough balancing act ahead of them when it comes to relations with the Trump administration, according to political commentator and Toronto Star columnist Paul Wells.

Delivering the keynote address entitled “A Trudeau Government in a Trump World” for the J.W. Dafoe Political Studies Students’ Conference on Jan. 25, Wells discussed the challenges ahead for the Trudeau government in maintaining a progressive social agenda while keeping Canada’s economic relationship with the U.S. strong.

Wells outlined the efforts the Liberal government has already made to prepare Canada for a large shift in American domestic and foreign policy under the leadership of Donald Trump in his speech to a packed atrium at McNally Robinson Booksellers.

Pointing to meetings between Canadian government officials and Trump transition team members at Trump Tower in New York City in early January, Wells said that the scale of effort the Trudeau government is making to keep Canada-U.S. relations positive, avoid provocation, and safeguard Canada’s position in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been “huge.”

Speaking with the Manitoban following his speech, Wells discussed Canada’s strong economic position in the event of any possible renegotiation of NAFTA or significant change to American economic policy.

“It’s true that our economies are tightly integrated. There are American jobs that depend on trade with Canada,” Wells said. “That’s a case you can make that I think [the Trump administration] will understand.”

Wells went on to discuss the sions. Justin Trudeau is not going to rise asked Trudeau if he would “save political cost Trudeau will have to be their guy,” he said. “Justin Trudeau Canada” from the new president. pay at home in maintaining a work- is not going to be the champion of “[Canadians] expect us to ensure ing relationship with the new U.S. people who want to yell at Donald stability, prosperity, opportunity that administration.

Trump.” comes with the important trade rela“[The Liberals] are telling them- tionship we have,” Trudeau answered. selves that there’s a bigger game, “Trade with the United States is an “Justin Trudeau is which is that even when Trump is essential part to our success.” president, there are Canadian jobs “We have to have a constructive, not going to be the that depend on the United States. working relationship with the new And after Trump is done being presi- administration and that’s exactly champion of people dent, we don’t want the relationship what I’m focused on. But Canadians who want to yell between our two countries to be a also expect for us to stand up loudly smoking crater.” and strongly for the values that make at Donald Trump” – On Jan. 26 – the day after Wells’ us Canadians,” he said. “Openness, Paul Wells, Toronto address – Trudeau’s ability to balance diversity, respect, rights. We are Canada’s economic interests and the going to be focused on the future of Star columnist prime minister’s social values were our country, making sure that we are tested when he stopped in Winnipeg ensuring that Canada stays Canada “There’s a lot of Canadians who are for his 10th cross-country town hall and that Canada stays prosperous.” really upset that Donald Trump is the event at the University of Winnipeg. president and are looking for people During the town hall, two fourth in positions of power to call him out grade students worried about the and denigrate his unfortunate deci- businessman-turned-politician’s

VOL. 103 NO. 21 February 1, 2017

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Majority of students support multitiered health plan, UMSU survey Potential plan will offer high-cost, high-coverage and low-cost, basic coverage options to undergrad and graduate students Seamus Hamilton-Pattison, staff

photo by miguel yetman

U

niversity of Manitoba Students’ level of health and dental coverage Other statistics from the survey Union (UMSU) vice president at an approximate fee of between indicate that 78 per cent of underinternal Adam Pawlak presented a $190-250, or an enhanced level at an grads and 76 per cent of graduates proposal for a multi-tiered health approximate fee of between $290-350. prioritize coverage for prescription and dental plan at council’s regular For the 2016-17 school year, students drugs, while 70 per cent and 66 per meeting Jan. 19. were billed $292 for UMSU health cent, respectively, held vision care The proposal would offer students and dental fees. coverage as a priority. a choice between various levels of covA survey polling student desire Nearly 90 per cent of U of M erage at different costs. The enhanced for a more flexible plan was circu- undergrads are enrolled in the health option will offer both graduate and lated through university email in and dental program, with 13 per cent undergrad students a higher degree November with nearly three-quarters of graduate students signed up. of coverage at a greater cost, while the of respondents supporting the idea.

With regards to an enhanced level basic plan offers limited coverage at The survey, circulated to both of coverage, a majority of student a reduced fee. undergrad and graduate students, was respondents would prioritize basic Students will also have the option returned by close to 400 respondents, dental coverage, a higher annual dento mix and match their coverage and above the minimum 300 Pawlak said tal maximum, and a higher level of enrol in the enhanced level of health makes the threshold for a represen- restorative coverage, which includes coverage with only a basic level of tative sample of the U of M’s nearly fillings and extractions. dental coverage or vice versa, or to 30,000 students.

Under the proposal, students pay for only health or dental coverThrough the survey, 76 per cent of will automatically be enrolled in the age alone. undergraduate students and 70 per enhanced level of coverage but with “At UMSU, we maintain the posi- cent of graduate students reported the right to opt down to the basic tion that there is no one-size-fits-all they would support the implementa- package, to mix and match plans, or model on many of the files we work tion of an enhanced plan. 74 per cent to opt out of the UMSU plan outright. with,” Pawlak said of the union’s deci- of the overall responses were positive. Proof of equivalent coverage will be sion to reexamine the health plan only When presented with the approxi- required to opt out of the program months after approving a series of mate annual costs for the enhanced altogether. scale-backs in the fall. and basic plans, 57 per cent of responStudentcare – the organization “This led us to also look into our dents indicated they would choose administering UMSU’s plan – will plan to realize that it can be even the enhanced level, while 35 per cent “absorb the cost and responsibility of more encompassing for our stu- would opt for the basic level. 52 per refunding students who chose to drop dents if we were to offer a flex plan cent of undergrads would choose to a low level of coverage.” framework.” enhanced coverage, while 38 per cent Students will be able to opt-down According to the plan’s framework, would choose the basic level. For grad from the enhanced level during a presented at the meeting, students students, 66 per cent would choose the change-of-coverage period and will will be able choose between a basic enhanced level and 31 per cent basic. receive a refund for the difference in

cost. This will require no documentation and can be completed online.

Studentcare will refund students via secure electronic deposit.

“It supports the idea that individual students are the best decision-makers for their own health needs” – Adam Pawlak, UMSU vice president internal “I hear from students who use the plan and know how important it is for them to have their healthcare, dental, vision, and other costs covered,” Pawlak said. “I also know how important it is for some students to keep fees low. I think offering each student the opportunity to tailor their coverage is a great way for UMSU to be responsive to the needs of our membership.”

“It supports the idea that individual students are the best decision-makers for their own health needs.”

Scale backs

In June, UMSU council learned that a 58 per cent increase in the number of claims filed through its health and dental plan over the last three years had rendered the plan unsustainable.

Since 2011, the U of M plan has paid out more than $12.7 million in claims, including $3.9 million in 201415. Representatives from Studentcare, who have administered the program on behalf of UMSU since 2013, projected more than $4.5 million in claims for the 2015-16 academic year.

Rather than increase the cost to students, the UMSU executive accepted a recommendation to reduce some of the plan’s dental preventative coverage and adopt the same pharmacare program used by other student associations in Manitoba. The changes also increased counselling coverage to $600.

With an increase of 3,000 students participating in the program over the last five years, the plan covers more than 17,000 U of M students.

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News

News Editors: Garett Williams & Levi Garber Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Progressive Conservatives stock U of M board of governors Seven members struck from board as province names 11 new appointees to university oversight body Garett Williams, staff

photo by levi garber

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he University of Manitoba’s board of governors will undergo its largest one-time turnover in years after the provincial government revoked the seats of seven sitting members and announced 11 new appointments last week.

In a release issued Jan. 25, the government announced the appointment of 11 new members and the reappointment of one student member to the board responsible for overseeing the administrative and business concerns of the university.

The 23-member board is made up of 12 appointments from the lieutenant governor on the advice of the provincial government – including three students - while three are elected by U of M graduates, three are elected by the university senate, and three are appointed by the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU).

The university’s chancellor and president are ex-officio members.

Four of the appointees fill positions that have been open for reappointment since May 2016, while seven positions were opened up by revoking the seats of sitting members, including board chair Ted Bock, whose three-year term was not set to expire until May 2019.

Minister of education and training Ian Wishart said the move is not an indictment of the board but an effort to establish the membership that will guide the university moving forward.

“It really has nothing to do with the performance of the previous board members, but we have faith that the people that we have appointed will

bring a new and fresh approach to the board and I hope we do see some changes in the future,” he said, while thanking the outgoing members for their service.

“It will most certainly have an impact and it is a concern in some ways” – Michael Barkman, CFS-MB chairperson Three of the replaced members’ terms were set to expire at the end of May, with the remaining three set to lapse a year later, in May 2018.

Members are appointed to three-year terms, except students, who serve one-year appointments.

Wishart said the government will meet with the new appointees to go over its priorities, which he said include tightening the links between the university’s programming and the needs of the labour market to help ensure graduates are stepping into careers beyond the U of M. “I think it’s a responsibility of the government, and the responsibility of the board, to make sure that [the university] has the facilities in place, and the priorities in place, to make that happen,” he said.

Wishart also said making the appointments in January allows the new members to settle into their roles before provincial budget

discussions begin.

The appointments mark the Progressive Conservatives’s first to the U of M board since taking power in the spring. Wishart said further appointments to the boards overseeing the province’s other universities and colleges can be expected.

“There’s certainly going to be some changes into the future on other postsecondary institutions as well,” he said.

The PCs were elected to government in April following more than 16 years of provincial NDP leadership. Since taking office, the Tories have made numerous appointments to Crown corporations and service boards.

Canadian Federation of StudentsManitoba chairperson Michael Barkman said he finds it “a little bit concerning” to see nearly half of the U of M board turn-over at once.

“It will most certainly have an impact and it is a concern in some ways,” he said.

“I think it’s really important that the board understands that their role is to take the money that is given from the province and spend it in ways that focuses on education and that they have a critical role in that – not just [as] a rubber stamp of whatever the administration is doing,” he said.

Wishart noted the government appointees have their own independent connections with the university and said he expects the board to provide careful oversight.

“We ask the board members to use their discretion and behave with

due diligence on good governance models,” he said. “Good governance is never a bad thing. They’re not put in place to rubber stamp our policies and, frankly, they don’t represent a majority [on the board], really.”

“They’re there to provide good advice and good counsel as an appropriate board member should be” – Ian Wishart, provincial minister of education and training

there’s nothing saying that they can’t do that,” she said, adding that “when we go through a government change, there’s always room for certain changes and [this] might be one of them [...] However, I would hope that folks appointed are able to ask tough questions and make wise decisions.”

The board was scheduled to meet Jan. 31 but the meeting has been postponed to later February to accommodate the new members.

New faces

Six of the 11 new appointments to the board are U of M alumni and many have business and private sector experience.

Kimber Osiowy, Kathryn Lee, Marc Mollot, Michael Silicz, Rafi Mohammed, and Laurel Hyde are all U of M graduates appointed to the board. Jane MacKenzie, Steve Demmings, and Judith Linden were “They’re there to provide good also appointed. advice and good counsel as an approLaw students Kyle Mirecki and priate board member should be,” he Heather Maxted were appointed said. as new student members. Medical Wishart added that he is not wor- student Ritika Khatkar has been reried the appointments will impact appointed for a third term as a student the continuity of the board moving member. forward, noting that 12 members are In addition to Bock, Bev Passey, remaining.

Anasatasia Sych-Yereniuk, Mona UMSU president Tanjit Nagra, Forsen, Tom Millington, Terry who sits on the board as one of three Sargeant, and Michael Robertson UMSU appointees and one of six have all been removed from the board. overall student representatives, said a turnover on the board is to be expected when a new government comes into office but echoed the call for independence.

“It was completely their decision,

Editorial Editor-In-Chief: Craig Adolphe Contact: Editor@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

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Manitoba PCs share Trump’s disdain for regulation Ideology shines through with proposed regulation removal legislation Craig Adolphe, staff

left: Photo by miguel yetman above: Photo provided by Marc nozell

W

hen the Manitoba PCs were seeking a mandate in the 2016 provincial election, they campaigned on a commitment to not cut frontline services. Other than that broad promise and a proposal to reduce ambulance fees, the PCs largely kept the focus off of themselves and off of specifics. They were looking to brand themselves as reasonable centrists after repeated losses campaigning from the far right.

But with a recent announcement related to regulatory cutbacks, the PCs are showing their true colours: Trump orange.

The government has announced plans to draft legislation mandating the government cut two regulations for every one they introduce, a ratio that is supposed to drop to one-forone after 2021, according to Deputy Premier Heather Stefanson.

The announcement should sound familiar to Manitobans, because it’s the same two-for-one policy announced by Donald Trump in his own 2016 election campaign, and the same one he signed an executive order to implement Monday.

Canadians – along with most of the rest of the world – have shown disdain for Trump, because, among

other things, the new president is an unrepentant liar with no interest in governing and plans to dismantle regulations that protect everyday Americans. But despite this, Manitobans don’t seem to have reacted much to the news about the same Trump policy being proposed here.

With a recent announcement related to regulatory cutbacks, the PCs are showing their true colours: Trump orange It’s understandable that the rise of an authoritarian figure below the border is drawing our attention more than dry discussions around regulation and their impacts on everyday people, but it’s still critical that we recognize this for what it is: a stupid idea.

Laura Jones, executive vice president of the Canadian Federation of

Independent Business, was quoted about the significance of the regulation ratio by the CBC. “Too many regulations is like having too many clothes in an overstuffed closet. What you’re doing with your two rules out for every one rule in is [you’re] cleaning the closet in Manitoba ... [your] one-in-oneout is about keeping the closet clean.”

The problem is, regulations aren’t like clothes. If you have 10 shirts, they all serve the same function and are essentially interchangeable (at least for the fashion-unaware, such as myself). Regulations aren’t interchangeable though. They’re designed to meet specific needs. A regulation that protects water safety isn’t interchangeable with a regulation that prevents fire hazards in residential housing. Cutting one because you’re introducing another doesn’t make any sense, and cutting two is worse still.

Some Manitobans may have had frustrating experiences running up against individual regulations, but that doesn’t mean they’re unnecessary.

And even if some were, overall, the system does work. If there are individual regulations that don’t make sense, people can approach their elected officials and raise concerns, and the government can repeal them.

But the idea of setting up an arbitrary ratio independent of the regulations at hand shows the PCs don’t understand what government is for.

Its primary purpose should be to protect citizens against private interests and ensure a certain quality of life. The most common manifestation of that for government is regulating

activities that might be damaging to the common good or threatening personal rights. This often means regulating corporations, with whom the profit motive is often pinned against someone else’s interests. For example, if you’re the owner of a business, you can make a larger profit if you don’t pay the costs required to make a workplace meet minimum levels of safety. The same argument can be made in terms of consumer protection with examples like food handling or processing regulations, or safety measures incorporated into automobile design. In these cases, government’s responsibility is to ensure private businesses are held to a standard that protects workers and citizens.

In order to recognize how useless this proposed legislation really is, it’s worth considering the best- and worst-case scenarios.

A theoretical worst-case scenario with the two-for-one proposal has the government unnecessarily struggling to pick between cutting two vital regulations like accessibility standards for new buildings and food inspection standards when they need to introduce another new regulation. A conservative defence of the proposal would likely argue that many regulations aren’t as critical as those two examples and that we could afford to lose those other ones. But if that’s the case, why wait to remove them?

Now that the PCs are in government, they’re free to look regulations over, assess them on their individual merit, and phase them out if they deem it necessary (and can effec-

tively argue their case to the public and stakeholders).

A best case scenario for the effectiveness of the legislation would be if it serves as a reminder to the government to keep looking for useless regulations to remove – regulations they could still remove without this legislation. However, it would only be binding until the government of the day decided to repeal it, and this still assumes that the government will only ever run into unnecessary regulations to cut.

A regulation that protects water safety isn’t interchangeable with a regulation that prevents fire hazards in residential housing The notion of a law mandating removal of regulations based on an arbitrary ratio signals an ideological distaste for regulations and the role of government; it might be a portent of a more Trump-like province moving forward. Manitobans should keep their eyes peeled.

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Comment Comment Editor: Shawn Garbutt Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Pipelines are bad for the environment and the economy Oil extraction projects create little to no permanent employment Shaden Abusaleh, staff

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fter the disastrous 2016 American to expand the economy and create presidential election, specula- jobs through building pipelines, tion on what the world should expect Canadians also expect a high level from a President Trump were tossed of enviro nmental responsibility. around between experts on the Contradictory statements aside, nightly news, opinion articles, and the case for job creation continues to social media feeds, one of which was be one of the biggest and repetitive the prediction that Donald Trump claims made in support of building would bring back the Keystone XL pipelines. During a press conference pipeline project. held in Calgary last Tuesday after And indeed, within days of his a federal cabinet retreat, Trudeau presidency, Trump is doing what pressed on the importance of pipeleaders around the globe rarely do: lines for job creation. So too did actually fulfilling the promises he Jim Carr, the minister of natural made as a candidate, delegitimizing resources, who expressed his optithe democratic process and signing mistic reaction in regards to Keystone a series of executive actions – both XL, claiming this pipeline projexecutive orders and presidential ect will create up to 4,500 jobs for memoranda – including an execu- Canadians. tive order to clear the way for the The more this is repeated, the more Keystone XL and Dakota Access it rings true to our ears. However, oil pipelines, both of which have the case for job creation in support been halted by the previous Obama of pipeline building is false. administration in response to In fact, a state department report immense opposition from Indigenous issued under the previous Obama and environmental activists. administration discovered that only The revival of the Keystone XL 3,900 construction jobs will be crepipeline, specifically, has been ated if Keystone XL takes a year to applauded by our government. Prime build. And if the construction phase Minister Justin Trudeau is strongly stretches out for two years, only 1,950 in favour of building Keystone XL, construction jobs will be created. citing its great potential for economic These jobs are also temporary – as output. in, they will no longer exist once the If built, the $8 billion Keystone pipeline is built. After its construcXL pipeline would stretch from tion phase, the Keystone XL pipeline Alberta’s oil sands all the way to will create only 35 full-time permaU.S. oil refineries located on the nent jobs and 15 full-time temporary American Gulf Coast. This 1,897 positions. This is because in addition kilometre pipeline would transport to not creating long-lasting jobs, 830,000 barrels of crude oil a day pipelines don’t require much labour and will run on top of underground to operate long-term. reservoirs that provide water to milIt is not plausible to continuously lions of Americans, including many claim that Keystone XL, among Indigenous communities. other pipelines, is an effective and Trump’s executive memorandums sustainable way of creating jobs for and Trudeau’s support came only days Canadians. All we are doing is trying after 200,000 litres of oil spilled on to numb and momentarily stabilize First Nations farmland. When asked the issue of unemployment instead about the leak last Wednesday during of successfully attempting to prea town hall in Saskatoon, Trudeau vent it in the first place. Opting for gave the same vague answer he’s pipelines is not only environmentally been dishing out during most of his destructive, but is also economically town halls, including at the recent shortsighted. town hall held at the University of Instead of leaning on the illusory Winnipeg. Trudeau danced around hope that pipelines will help pull the the question, claiming that while Canadian economy back on its feet Canadians expect the government and bring down unemployment rates,

photo provided by luca galuzzi

we should adopt policies that seek to eliminate and prevent the issue of unemployment in the first place. It’s been done before and it can still be accomplished.

labour market boards and boards of education. They also implemented effective monetary support mechanisms and established employment services that intensified placement efforts for young people.

Most importantly, the Swedish government adopted policies to fight It is not plausible against occupational stereotyping, to continuously which played an important role in decreasing the unemployment rate. claim that Keystone Instead of building pipelines, the XL, among other Swedish government created relief work or public service employment pipelines, is an jobs, which contributed significantly to the rise of youth employment in effective and Sweden throughout the 1970s. sustainable way Federally, Canada would do well to mimic a 1970s experiment by of creating jobs the provincial NDP government. for Canadians Between 1974 and 1979, the government enacted a policy known as “Mincome” which issued a universal During the 1970s oil price shocks, basic income to residents of Dauphin, the Swedish government sought to a northern Manitoba town. The proincrease employment by pursuing gram virtually obliterated all stigma policies that targeted barriers to and barriers attached to members employment. This included recreating of the working poor by mandating school curriculums to provide special that each and every citizen would courses developed by both the local receive monthly cheques – in total,

it amounted to nearly five times the average Statistics Canada claimed that low-income workers earned.

Rather than making a tradeoff between the environment and meagre economic activity, the federal government and its provinces ought to invest in a truly productive economy by giving each and every citizen the financial means to seek stable employment, that which would generate actual growth. Oil-mongering will only continue the trend of corporate executives reaping massive profits while the working class finds itself job hopping within the confines of precarious employment.

Canada can and should adopt policies that contribute to raising our employment rate without resorting to brutalizing our environment. The mistaken premise that these pipelines are a good investment for job creation is delaying the necessary transition to clean, renewable energy that our economy needs and environment deserves.

10 Comment

Comment Editor: Shawn Garbutt Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Should Canada prepare itself for Prime Minister Kevin O’Leary?

Mr. Wonderful a shoo-in for Conservative leadership Jeremiah Kopp, staff

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ith all of the electoral excitement south of the border, it is understandable that Canadians have been distracted from their own political landscape. While Donald Trump deserves all the righteous indignation that he is receiving from my Facebook newsfeed, I can only hope that the decidedly centre and centre-left activists on my social media will be just as engaged in combatting our own populist candidate here at home.

well-educated and intelligent indi- and summarized by acknowledging built during his tenure. While Harper more moderate policies could succeed vidual adopts xenophobic campaign that celebrity matters in politics, even is no longer in charge, O’Leary is not given the way our federal system is policies for purely political purposes. in a leadership race that uses a dele- so different from the former Prime structured. Even more indicative is Maxime Bernier is another per- gated system of election. The more Minister in message, tone, and policy. an Ipsos poll, released one day before son who has attracted some mod- interesting question is whether or not If anything is different between the the American election, which found icum of interest. He has been largely O’Leary has the ability to beat the two, it is that O’Leary has no existing that 76 per cent of Canadians would applauded for a traditional libertarian Liberals in the next federal election. political record to attack, is signifi- consider voting for a candidate with campaign that has raised an impresAn Ipsos poll released late January cantly friendlier with media, and is similar policies to Donald Trump. sive amount of money and articu- tested support amongst one thou- more charismatic on camera.

Despite his similarities with the lated well-researched policies. One sand decided voters. A Conservative new U.S. president, many of the comcan’t help but wonder, however, if Party led by Kevin O’Leary received parisons taking place are superficial. the praise won by Bernier and his 37 per cent support compared to the O’Leary may take the same underThe more interesting predominant focus on issues such Liberals’ 38 per cent. While this is lying populist message of creating question is whether as dairy supply chain management only one poll, it is hardly an encourjobs and building the economy, but The possibility of are due to the relatively impotent aging result for Justin Trudeau as his candidacy is decidedly pro-free or not O’Leary has campaigns of the remaining cast of his would-be opponent hasn’t even trade and pro-immigration, importa Kevin O’Leary the ability to beat candidates. won the Conservative leadership race, ant differences from the new adminUnfortunately for Leitch, Bernier, let alone mounted a serious attack istration south of the border. led Conservative the Liberals in the and the other Conservative leader- against the governing party.

He may be blunt and unapologetic government is a ship contestants, they have been renPolitics is usually cyclical and by nature, but O’Leary will avoid next federal election dered irrelevant with Kevin O’Leary’s Kevin O’Leary may, in all likelihood, the divisive identity politics that distinct possibility announcement that he would be be one election too early. If historTrump engaged in to rally his base. and must be entering the fray. ical precedent, voting trends, public Many compare O’Leary’s style to His style and focus on the economy Many have been quick to distance support, current national issues, and Donald Trump and dismiss him as will resonate with broad swaths of taken seriously themselves from O’Leary, attack his world affairs are any indication, it immediately unelectable. Despite our Canadians who view him as a serious controversial sound-bites, and write seems Trudeau’s Liberal government many similarities, it is often tempt- candidate with the necessary qualities The Conservative Party of Canada off his candidacy as a publicity stunt. likely has at least one mandate left ing to distance ourselves from our of a strong leader. The possibility of is currently in the midst of its leader- Sound familiar? In reality, Canada is from the Canadian people. This is American neighbours if the chance a Kevin O’Leary-led Conservative ship contest to find a permanent not immune to the same brash, hard- by no means guaranteed, however, presents itself. Yet perhaps we should government is a distinct possibility replacement for Stephen Harper. Up hitting, populist approach to politics and it certainly does not mean that look in our own backyard. While and must be taken seriously. until this week, the 13 candidates in that has gripped the United States O’Leary will be unsuccessful if he many friends and colleagues of mine the race have attracted little atten- and much of the western world over plans on taking the long-view to his are still gobsmacked that Trump tion, due to a fairly underwhelming the past two years. O’Leary’s forceful political career. managed to get elected, a full 30 per group of hopefuls with little name presence and quick wit will play espeIn building a two-election strategy cent of Canadian respondents indirecognition or appeal beyond existing cially well with a Conservative base for the self-styled ‘Mr. Wonderful,’ cated that they approved of the way that is looking for a tough candidate there is certainly a path forward to he handled himself as president-elect political circles.

Throughout much of the race, to face off against Prime Minister 24 Sussex. In the last election, the in the pre-transition period, accordKellie Leitch has been the only can- Trudeau.

Conservative vote share declined by ing to an EKOS poll. didate to attract consistent and wideKevin O’Leary will win the only 8 per cent and finished with a While this total may not seem spread media attention. Presumably, Conservative leadership race. While respectable 32 per cent of the popu- large to some people, from an electhis is because of how awkward and there are a number of factors at play, lar vote. This reflects the strong base toral standpoint it is easy to see how uncomfortable it is when a seemingly my reasoning can be overly-simplified of support that Stephen Harper had an equally forceful candidate with

VOL. 103 NO. 21 February 1, 2017

Comment 11

Law school: the good, the bad, and the ugly – but mostly good Kyle Mirecki

photo by star roxas

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n four months – barring unforeseen are more law school graduates than failure – I will graduate with a Juris articling positions. While Robson Doctor degree from Robson Hall fac- Hall’s career development office genulty of law. That is seven full-time erously claims that 92 per cent of the years and 216 credit hours spent at 2012 graduate class secured articling the University of Manitoba. I want to or clerking positions, unemployment share a few insights I stumbled upon is becoming noticeably prevalent along the way. according to reports from my peers.

Let’s start with a few misconceptions. A prospective student is left speculatMost people, especially your fam- ing, “Why is faculty’s information ily, assume that if you get into law five years old?” school, you will end up with a job In Ontario, as of 2012, approxithat makes a lot of money. In real- mately 15 per cent – or 1,750 – of all law ity, the level of pay varies a great graduates do not find articling posideal depending on the market, sec- tions each year. With the exception of tor (profit, non-profit, and govern- Ryerson University’s alternative law ment) and area of practise. Even at practice program in Ontario, students the biggest corporate firms with the must complete articles with a qualihighest salaries, it can take years for fied employer in order to be eligible a person to pay off their student loans to practise law. Despite its saturation, and receive the kind of salary that the Ontario recently added Lake Head general public believes, probably from University’s Bora Laskin faculty of movies and television, is associated law in Thunder Bay and is now conwith a lawyer. While Robson Hall sidering Ryerson University’s applicafaculty of law has one of the lowest tion for fully-fledged accreditation. tuition rates in Canada , articling Finally, I have spoken to many students in Western Canada, like students who feel pressured to go to Atlantic Canada and Québec, are law school immediately after their also paid some of the lowest salaries undergraduate degree. Many of my in the country. colleagues have been successful with Another misconception is that if this approach. By no means, however, you get a law degree, you are guar- is it better. In fact, in many cases it anteed a job as a lawyer. In actuality, can be more difficult. Law is a profesthis is false. Canada’s legal market is sion of experience. And, while firms highly saturated. That means there can teach you how to practise law,

they can’t teach you life experience. paper, seemed the most likely to have Personally, I chose to take three years indifference for or opposition to my off to work for the government in success who turned out to be the between my undergraduate and law most encouraging, influential, and degree. So far, this experience has empowering. been invaluable to my success in law school.

It is also never too late to go back Whether you intend to school. There are students in their to practise or not, a thirties and forties that excel in the program. They are often the most law degree is one of exceptional students because of their the most valuable, experience.

I have also had my own misconstimulating, and ceptions and biases about law school.

On the first day of orientation rewarding academic week, we were asked to anonymously experiences you write down our expectations for law school. I recall writing down somecan undertake thing along the lines of, “I expect this bastion of socialism to attempt to indoctrinate me as a social justice I also came into law school with warrior.” I turned the piece of paper a great deal of contempt for what I over to a colleague of mine completely anticipated would be an overly theoself-assured and with a smirk on my retical and impractical curriculum. face.

And, while I continued to be critical The truth is, however, after nearly of the curriculum, like most things, three years attending Robson Hall there are both successes and failures. faculty of law, with the exception With the exception of some, such of a few instances, I have never felt as “Legal Systems,” I have found the pressured by my colleagues or profes- majority of courses to be rewarding sors to adopt their personal political in their own ways. agendas. By and large, the faculty is This brings me to the good. Now, completely professional. Ironically, whether you intend to practise or not, it was the professor that, at least on a law degree is one of the most valu-

able, stimulating, and rewarding academic experiences you can undertake.

Your mind is rewired to engage problems in logical, efficient, and strategic ways. You acquire the ability to understand, explain, and navigate some of the most complex social and economic issues. You are exposed to hundreds of intelligent professors and classmates from a spectrum of ages, expertises, socio-economic statuses, and opinions. This exposure broadens, strengthens, and matures your convictions and arguments. As a result, you learn to admire and respect your opponents and their professional accomplishments. And, at the end of it all, you receive one of the greatest privileges of all – the ability to practise law.

There are undeniable ugly truths about law school. But amidst the bad is an overwhelming amount of good to overcome it.

Kyle G. Mirecki is a third year law student in Robson Hall faculty of law.

Features Features Editor: Shawn Garbutt Contact: features@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

12

New players in an old game The Manitoban’s first reporter inside the legislature gives a play-by-play of a day in provincial politics Levi Garber, staff

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t’s 1:25 p.m. on a November Thursday like any other at Manitoba’s legislative assembly.

A bell echoes loudly through the limestone hallways, calling members into the chamber for question period.

MLAs and political staffers make their way to their respective entrances – the opposition NDP and Liberals on one side and the PC government on the other – going over final notes and sticking points for the session.

By 1:35, most of the 57 MLAs are in their seats and the visitors’ gallery is sprinkled with guests. There are only a few reporters apart from myself sitting up in the press gallery, which is a small line of seats positioned directly above the speaker’s throne, directly facing the members’ large horseshoe of desks. The rest of the political reporters at the legislature are listening in by speaker from their press offices.

The session begins with a prayer led by the speaker and then members’ statements. MLAs take turns acknowledging guests they have invited to sit in the visitors’ gallery that day: one is a group of film-making inner-city high school students whose showcase is later that night; another is a Métis rights advocate whose acknowledging statement is the only words spoken in French in the chamber for the rest of the day.

During these 15 minutes of waves and polite applause, I usually take a couple of minutes to admire the room. “Opulent” and “grandiose” are good adjectives for it. Gold-painted murals depicting biblical scenes encircle the members from above, and two large bronze statues, one depicting Moses in Michelangelo’s style – with horns – holding the 10 commandments, the other of the ancient Athenian politician and democrat Solon stand on each side of the speaker’s throne.

When I look back down toward the MLAs who are about to begin a 45-minute barrage of scornful remarks, insults, laughter, and heckling, the Premier of Manitoba, Brian Pallister, enters from a side door, possibly late due to a meeting or an extended lunch break. Pallister gives a small bow to the speaker and walks slowly to his desk at the front and centre of his PC cabinet.

All eyes in the room examine his behaviour as the last one or two members conclude their statements, looking for any sign of vulnerability today. The premier is chatting with his justice and finance ministers, who flank him on

either side. I’m just out of earshot and can’t hear The NDP continued their offensive for days whether the joke he told was funny, but both – while input from the three Liberal members ministers laugh anyway. of the chamber was nowhere to be found – and At just after 2 p.m. the speaker calls on the although they never managed to elicit a meaninterim leader of the opposition, NDP MLA ingful answer from the PCs, they were able to Flor Marcelino, to ask her first question to the get under the government’s skin. government. As she stands, two clocks on either In the middle of one question period, the side of the chamber begin to tick down from 45 premier, visibly frustrated with the claims being minutes. The game begins. yelled from the opposition, accused Mr. Kinew The NDP are not used to being in this posi- of “peacocking for students.” tion. Only one MLA in the party was in the Peacocking? I’m not one hundred per cent legislature the last time they were in opposition sure what Pallister meant by that, but it defi17 years ago. nitely had everyone in the chamber doing a double take. It was one moment of many where the premier’s diplomatic grace faltered while under pressure during question period.

Pallister has yet to master In response to a question on education on a strategy of patience another occasion, the premier bitterly brought up misogynist lyrics from Kinew’s past as a and calm during debate musician, seemingly out of nowhere and in sheer annoyance with the member opposite.

Reduced from a majority of 35 seats to a meaPatience is key to any government’s perger 14 – now 13 with Kevin Chief ’s departure formance in question period. Former Prime – the NDP are struggling to find a clear strategy Minister Stephen Harper had plenty of it to navigate the uncharted waters of PC rule. when taking questions from Thomas Mulcair, The NDP’s transition out of power has not a skilled prosecutor who threw razor-sharp been helped by a spate of crises following their questions toward the government benches. Our failed reelection. Having lost star MLA and current prime minister has also proven that he possible party leadership contender Chief and has the necessary tact to endure the onslaught now dealing with sexual harassment allegations of criticisms from both the right and left that against the Maples MLA Mohinder Saran, the his Liberal government has summoned since NDP is the farthest it has ever been from its taking office. heyday of public support under former premier Pallister has yet to master a strategy of Gary Doer. patience and calm during debate.

To her credit, however, Marcelino does try.

This, however, is new territory for the PCs. During the three-week University of They haven’t been in government since the Gary Manitoba faculty strike, in which Pallister was Filmon days of the 1990s and are used to the accused of interfering in negotiations between opposition politics of scornful accusations and the U of M faculty association and administra- demands rather than running the show. tion over a wage freeze directive, the interim And then there’s the heckling. A true staple opposition leader repeatedly demanded in clear of democratic debate. Grown men and women, form that the government reveal the extent of yelling across the aisle at each other like arrotheir involvement. gant schoolchildren, is far too common an Marcelino and the NDP education critic, occurrence at the legislative assembly.

Wab Kinew, took turns day after day grilling Every party is guilty of participating in it Pallister and his finance and education min- and yet everyone seems so offended by the isters on the PCs’ role in the long and frus- jeers when they are directed at their party’s trating strike. In return, they received ridicule benches. Political showmanship is at its finest and a response nearly without meaning the between 2 and 2:40 p.m. Monday through government has repeated ad nauseam: “We Thursday. No, the chamber doesn’t sit on were elected by the people of Manitoba to fix Fridays. this province’s finances and that is what we are As the clocks on the wall slowly tick down going to do.” to zero, I take my cue from the other reporters

VOL. 103 NO. 21 February 1, 2017

Features

graphic by kelly campbell

to start heading to the rotunda for the daily scrum with the premier.

Mr. Pallister, flanked by a number of young, smartly-dressed staffers, strides toward the podium with confidence. If he’s in a good mood he’ll tell a short joke before the reporters begin.

The scrum is when the actual answers are wrested out.

The NDP is the farthest it has ever been from its heyday of public support under former premier Gary Doer The small group of reporters at the legislature is an experienced bunch. Getting one of my own questions in is not an easy task when they know the exact moments to interject and prod for the answers they want to hear.

However, today there are only six of us, so getting my own question and follow-up in isn’t too difficult.

After the speech from the throne a few days

earlier, it was a madhouse out in the rotunda.

The ball got rolling when the head of the Manitoba Federation of Labour came out to decry the speech before it had even finished.

Reporters swarmed the premier, his cabinet ministers, opposition members, union representatives, and more the moment they stepped out of the chamber. It was fun.

Today is less of a spectacle. After the premier is ushered away by his staff to get to another meeting or function, an opposition member or two will come out of their caucus room to respond to a few of Pallister’s comments so as to have the last word of the day.

The other reporters are already off transcribing quotes and writing their stories for the day by 3:30. Deadlines are important, or so I’ve heard. Finding myself alone in the grand foyer, catching myself ogling the artwork again, I decide to pack up to head back to the office.

The most recent sitting of the legislature came to a close on Dec. 2 and the assembly is scheduled to return on Mar. 1, 2017. Until then, the government will be working on its next budget, which, if the hints coming from the finance and education ministers as well as the premier himself are true, will feature significant changes to post-secondary education funding from the province.

As the government and opposition parties are still coming to terms with their new roles under the golden boy, what better time would there be to introduce the Manitoban to the game? This is new territory for everyone and for a young, doe-eyed wannabe political journalist like myself, it’s exciting as hell.

Now, more so than in the last 17 years, it is important that students pay attention to what’s happening at the legislature. The goings-on of the chamber and the premier’s office may not be as nail-biting or dramatic as an episode of House of Cards, but the decisions made and debate waged will affect students profoundly.

Leaving the building’s grand entrance to a bustling city in the midst of rush hour, it becomes clear with a brisk rush of November air that 2017 is bound to be an interesting year for provincial politics.

I would pay attention if I were you.

Science & technology 14 Science & Technology Editor: Malak Abas Contact: science@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Five reasons Winnipeg is still better than Mars, even if it’s colder sometimes Mars might be warmer, but Winnipeg’s got it going on Malak Abas, staff

4. Winnipeg, like the rest of the planet, has a magnetic field

Earth, Winnipeg included, has got it made when it comes to planetary magnetic fields.

While studies of Mars’s crust suggest that Mars may have had a magnetic field as some point, as of now, Mars doesn’t have the global magnetic field Earth does.

Mars does have some water, probably. But Winnipeg has lots more. At least we can say that And this is important. Earth has a super powerful magnetic field, and it is crucial to our survival. It serves as armour for our planet, protecting us from radiation from space, particularly solar winds from the Sun. Without it, the Sun’s winds would blow our atmosphere clean off.

Whatever you want to say about Winnipeg, you have to admit-at least we have an atmosphere.

5.Winnipeg knows what to do with its harsh conditions

Sure, Winnipeg is cold, but in its peak event season, do you even notice it? The only tourist attractions Mars really depends on who you ask, you has to offer is its two moons, and have to admit that we can at least they’re ominously named after the breathe air here.

Greek words for “fear” and “panic.”

Even if we were to create a system Winnipeg only gets more and more that allowed humans to breathe on interesting every winter.

Mars, living there may prove difficult While Mars may be warmer than for other reasons. As you probably Winnipeg sometimes, we have more know, Winnipeg has an unsavory fun in the cold. We have one of the reputation for violence (we were voted longest skating trails in the world. the country’s most dangerous city by We have the Festival du Voyageur. our fellow Canadians in August of We are so enamoured with our this year) and while Mars supporters chilly environment, that we actually might use this as a point to prop up have a restaurant that only opens their own argument, simulations of in the dead of winter... on top of life in space have been equally chaotic. a frozen river. The biting cold has Trying to recreate space colonies turned Winnipeggers into a special, here on Earth has always had strange resourceful breed. results. The infamous Biosphere 2, in Mars may be a home for humans 1992, turned seven friendly people in the near future (Elon Musk living within it into enemies, even believes that as many as a million splitting up into two factions and humans could be living on Mars by refusing to speak. The damage was 2060) but no matter what the internet so immense that the entire science says, Winnipeg is not only usually advisory committee involved with warmer than Mars, it’s a lot more the project resigned at once. The con- hospitable, too. flict was attributed to several factors, including the lack of oxygen, badtasting food, and the psychological effects of isolation.

Winnipeg is fairly isolated, and we haven’t split up into warring factions ... yet. Take that, Mars.

(NASA is attempting to recreate a space colony again this year, on top of a volcano in Hawaii, and is presumably hoping for less volatile results). graphic by aldo rios

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innipeg is colder than Mars. It’s a statement Winnipeggers love to repeat, some in a tone of disdain, some in a tone of pride. And in a way, it is true – Winnipeg often out-chills Mars when winter gets particularly harsh – but is it really fair to compare Winnipeg to Mars? Winnipeg has a lot going for it, after all. Let’s look at four of those times where, while Mars might trump us weather-wise once in a while, we still have Mars beat.

1. Winnipeg has access to water, and Mars only has theoretical water (for now)

Winnipeg finds itself right next to one of the most impressive bodies of water in the world. Lake Winnipeg is one of our planet’s largest freshwater lakes. We’ve got a lot of water. Once upon a time, Mars and its possible inhabitants had that in common with Winnipeggers – in fact, many scientists believe that Mars not only had water, but had water for at least one billion years.

Those days, however, are but a rueful memory for the Mars we know today. Just last week, newly released photos from Mars found not water, but cracked mud. This cracked mud was reminiscent of cracked mud here on Earth, as dried cracked mud here can be the remnants of a former body of water.

That being said, evidence from 2015 insinuates that liquid water flows on Mars even today. Hydrated salts found on downward slopes appear to cause a very shallow “briny” type of liquid to flow. So Mars does have some water, probably. But Winnipeg has lots more. At least we can say that.

The biting cold has turned Winnipeggers into a special, resourceful breed 2. Winnipeg’s coldest day is warm for Mars

considering the fact that the average temperature any day on Mars is -60° Celsius, and it can get as cold as -125° Celsius on a winter night.

Mars, like Winnipeg, has an incredibly wide range of temperatures. In fact, if it’s summer, and near the equator, Mars can reach up to 20° Celsius. That’s not just nice weather for Winnipeg – that’s nice weather anywhere. You could wear shorts on a nice summer day on Mars. Well, you could wear shorts on Mars if a human could live long enough on Mars to enjoy the weather. Speaking of which:

3. Winnipeg might have more crime than Mars, but that’s only because Mars is uninhabitable

Any discourse comparing Mars “Winnipeg is colder than Mars” is and Winnipeg has to consider a rash statement. And while it’s a rash Mars’s complete lack of oxygen. The statement that’s had some positive air pressure is so low on Mars that consequences – the international rec- any human attempting to step out ognition actually resulted in a team of in shorts would immediately feel scientists at NASA naming a patch of the oxygen in their blood turn into rock on Mars that they were studying bubbles, causing instant death. Even “Winnipeg” – it was rash nonetheless. warm temperatures on Mars only Turns out, this gives us an inaccu- exist mere centimetres above its surrate picture of both Winnipeg (Earth face. Above that, however, lies a cold Winnipeg, not Mars Winnipeg) and atmosphere that is almost entirely Mars. The -30° Celsius winters that carbon dioxide.

Winnipeg’s residents have become Mars is uninhabitable for now. accustomed to would actually be While whether or not Winnipeg considered pretty balmy on Mars, was meant to be inhabited by people

VOL. 103 NO. 21 February 1, 2017

Science & Technology 15

Major oil leak occurs on First Nation territory in Saskatchewan Over 200,000 litres of crude oil has affected Ocean Man First Nation Malak Abas, staff

over 200,000 litres of oil has Just been leaked on First Nations terri-

photo provided by Sean Mack

tory in Saskatchewan.

The oil leak affects farmland on the Ocean Man First Nation, treaty land southeast of Regina. While it is not a residential area, the leak has reached a cemetery that the band in the area deems sacred.

Clint Big Eagle, an Ocean Man First Nation resident, claims he came across the spill after investigating a bad smell that lingered in the air nearby for over two weeks.

The leak appears to have affected an area of land approximately 20 metres in radius, and happened on a frozen slough in lower terrain, which helped the spill remain relatively contained to one area.

According to an email update from the province, about 180,000 litres have been recovered so far. The Saskatchewan government reported that neither air quality nor wildlife appear to have been affected by the spill.

The pipeline was confirmed to have belonged to Tundra Energy Marketing Limited, an oil service provider based in Calgary and southwest Manitoba. While the

official cause has not yet been determined, assistant deputy minister to the ministry of the economy Doug MacKnight said that officials noticed a small hole on a weld near the pipeline while working on its excavation.

another major oil spill when 225,000 litres of Husky Energy oil leaked through a ruptured pipeline and into the North Saskatchewan River, resulting in the drinking water supply in two cities to be cut off. In just the last month, there have been 25 oil- or gas-related spills in Saskatchewan.

Clint Big Eagle, an These spills come after several large pipeline approvals in both Ocean Man First Canada and the United States. Just last week, after months of highly Nation resident, publicized negative backlash from claims he came American citizens over the proposed pipelines, President Donald Trump across the spill after ordered that the Dakota Access investigating after a and Keystone XL pipelines resume construction. In November of 2016, bad smell lingered Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal cabinet signed off on a in the air nearby for $6.8-billion proposed expansion of over two weeks the Kinder Morgan pipeline, a decision that he has been criticised by environmental groups.

Tundra Energy Marketing The Saskatchewan government released a brief statement confirm- has no record of the Tundra Energy ing the source of the leak, and assured Marketing pipeline ever being that they were “working closely with inspected, but adds that it is the comregulatory bodies and Ocean Man pany’s responsibility to keep track of First Nation to determine the cause their pipeline inspections. of the incident.”

Just last July, Saskatchewan faced

Diversions Graphics Editor: Kelly Campbell Contact: graphics@themanitoban.com / 474.6775

graphic by aldo rios

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17

Arts & Culture Arts & Culture Editor: Tobi Nifesi Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Onward and Forthwith

Three days of performances, visual art, and workshops take over Forth Projects Lauren Siddall, staff

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orth Projects – a café, bar, coffee roastery, restaurant, and art gallery – has quickly become a staple in the Exchange District. After opening its doors and getting its footing, Forth has become a dominating force in the arts and culture scene in Winnipeg, and it’s about to do it again.

From Feb. 10-12, Forth is hosting Forthwith, a multidisciplinary festival aiming to blur the lines between music, art, creativity, and technology.

Local artists ranging from the Vinyl Salon to Kelly Ruth will display their artwork, perform, and run workshops over the three-day festival. And to top it off, they’re flying in 20 artists from South America, the United States, and Europe – including coorganizer Wouter Jaspers, an electronic music artist from Berlin and friend of the owners of Forth.

Top: Photo provided by rogers nbh bottom: photo by miguel yetman “The festival, for us, is a place but also a time that artists can come disciplines of experimental artists during those three days, you will be Choosing the variety of musical the dead of winter again next year to together and in a climate that not all and art appreciators. The three-day immersed in art.” acts from all over the globe was not do it all again. of them are used to – the middle of festival will consist of art installaAnd not just art, but a wide variety easy, according to Jaspers. He and “My goal for the festival is that winter in Winnipeg – and where they tions, performances, and workshops of art to showcase the diversity within the other organizers brainstormed a everyone who participates in it, everycan share their ideas and share their – including one lead by Jaspers and the experimental art scene. huge list of potential acts to include in one who visits it, and everyone who is art with all the visitors,” explained Dutch experithe festival, with involved from Forth and Video Pool, Jaspers. mental pioneer the goal of provid- and everyone who is helping us has “I think it’s a festival where artists Frans de Waard ing a large sample learned something, has had a good “I think it’s a festival where artists and and visitors come together, where – taking over of elect ronic, time, and all want to do it again next visitors come together, where new art is new art is created, for which new art the McDermot experimental year,” said Jaspers. gets created, and where people can Space. According music.

Then, they “Besides that, on an artistic level, created, for which new art gets created, and learn from one another.” to Jaspers, the feshad to determine I would like to see the artists happy where people can learn from one another” The idea for the festival originated tival will take full who could actu- with the art they have produced at when Jaspers visited Winnipeg last advantage of the ally attend the the festival and for the festival, and I – Wouter Jaspers, Forthwith organizer September and ended up playing a huge square footfestival based on hope that we can talk with the visishow on the rooftop patio at Forth. age Forth occupies, other scheduling tors and grow together into next year, “When I was there, the idea came and Video Pool, a conflicts. where we can present – hopefully – up to organize something a bit bigger nearby media arts centre.

“Some of the artists are from a “We first started to look at who do even more art.” this time around, and to do it in win“The performances will be every- more pop music background, while we know, and who have we played ter this time – which makes it a lot where. We will have acts playing in others are from a more classical music with in the past that we think are Tickets are available at Forth (171 more interesting. With outside being the main café floor, in the bar down- background. What we tried to do was really awesome. And who do we like McDermot Ave.) or at www.eventso wet and cold, I think it inspires you stairs, and there will be events also look at people who are very passion- to hang out with also, because we’re brite.ca/e/forthwith-day-pass-tickto be inside and to make good art, on the roof, and there are also going ate, obviously we are about the music going to all be stuck together for a ets-31092493485. Day passes are $15 while also connecting you together.” to be a lot of different installations they play, and that are really good week,” Jaspers laughed. and weekend passes are $40. Visit www.

Through Forthwith, they hope to by Canadian artists and artists from examples of different approaches in If all goes well, Jaspers hopes to forth.ca/forthwith for more information. facilitate a coming together of many abroad. Wherever you go at Forth experimental music making.” make the cold trip to Winnipeg in

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Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor: Tobi Nifesi Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

SpaceFinder brings artists and creative spaces together Emelia Fournier, staff

art service organization reaches over 250,000 artists and organizations through a variety of programs and services. The service is also available in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and in 15 American cities.

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n Friday, Feb. 3, Fractured Atlas, toba.spacefinder.org - and provides in partnership with the Arts free matchmaking tools so artists and Cultural Industries Association can search for creative workspaces of Manitoba (ACI Manitoba) will based on location, price, amenities, launch SpaceFinder Manitoba, an and availability. Winnipeg’s arts and online platform for artists and culture staples like the Winnipeg venues in Winnipeg. The launch, Cinematheque and the Winnipeg which will take place as a part of the Arts Gallery rooftop will be listed on Exchange District’s monthly First SpaceFinder, as well as lesser-known Fridays events, and will run from 4 and unconventional venues. p.m. to 6 p.m. on the 4th floor of 245 “[SpaceFinder] really is the Airbnb for artists and creative folk. It makes McDermot Avenue.

SpaceFinder is a free online tool searching for and seeking out those for venues to advertise their spaces for creative spaces so simple you can do artists, and for artists to find studios, it from the comfort of your couch or gallery spaces, creative and perfor- a coffee shop,” said Arlea Ashcroft, mance spaces. The online platform is facility manager at ACI Manitoba. accessible to all via a website - mani“It’s also pretty fantastic to see the

Manitoba becomes as big as any other online booking tool and that people see the intrinsic value of it,” said Ashcroft.

Ashcroft hopes SpaceFinder will eventually be available throughout Manitoba, from Brandon to Churchill. She believes it will pro“It’s breathing life vide a streamlined rental and venuefinding process that reduces the time into underused artists spend figuring out the logistics spaces and creating of their projects and exhibitions, thus allowing more room for creativity. value for our city” “I don’t think there has ever been a resource offered which puts all the – Arlea Ashcroft, potential creative spaces in one area facility manager so that you can peruse and find the space that’s right for you.” at ACI Manitoba Created by artists, for artists, SpaceFinder will make venue rental SpaceFinder originally made its more accessible, and allow the artisway to Canada through a collabo- tic community to explore the many ration with the ArtsBuild Ontario unique venues Winnipeg has to offer.

(ABO), the Toronto Alliance “SpaceFinder Manitoba empowfor the Performing Arts, and ers artists and community to work photo provided by spacefinder manitoba WorkInCulture. The funding for its together as a cultural hub,” said initial launch was provided by the Ashcroft.

“It's breathing life into underused overall picture and variety of spaces Metcalf Foundation. Lindsay Golds, that Winnipeg has. It really is a city the executive director of ABO, con- spaces and creating value for our city.” tacted various arts and cultural leadthat is art- and creation-heavy.”

Fractured Atlas created and ers across Canada, including ACI For more information about launched SpaceFinder in New York Manitoba, and was put in touch with SpaceFinder, visit www.245mcdermot.

City. Fractured Atlas began as a pro- Ashcroft. This led to what is now a ca/spacefinder. To learn more about ACI duction company in 1998, then was partnership between ACI, ABO, and Manitoba’s other projects and initiatives, reinvented as an arts service organiza- Fractured Atlas. visit www.creativemanitoba.ca/ tion in 2002. Today, this non-profit “I’m hoping that SpaceFinder

VOL. 103 NO. 21 February 1, 2017

Arts & Culture

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Manitoba Theatre for Young People’s Mess takes humorous approach to tackling anorexia Olivia Michalczuk, staff

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rom Feb. 17 to 26, the Manitoba Theatre for Young People (MTYP) will be showcasing Mess, a play written by British performer and creator Caroline Horton. The play creatively tackles common sociocultural issues like anorexia, obsession, eating disorders, and addiction.

Though Mess is playing at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People, a venue typically geared towards children and teenagers, it is tackling issues that apply to people across all demographics. The subject matter is anorexia, an issue that most people can easily relate to by experience or knowing someone who has experienced the disorder.

In Mess, Caroline Horton takes her formal acting background and adds her own personal experience with anorexia to create a creative and captivating play. The play features three characters: Josephine, a woman in her 20s who suffers from anorexia, and her two friends. One is Boris, a male character played by a woman; the other friend Sistahl plays the music for Mess and Josephine comically interacts with her throughout the play.

Horton takes a humorous approach to tackling otherwise serious issues in her play. Mess exposes some of the deep truths of anorexia in a lighthearted manner and Pablo Felices-Luna, MTYP’s artistic director, believes this makes the play

unique and entertaining.

“It’s not just the humour, but [Horton] goes to some pretty truthful places because she goes deeper and deeper, and by doing so there is a beautiful sense of humour so it doesn’t feel like the audience is here for a lecture,” Felices-Luna said.

“It’s smart, relevant, funny. People in their 20s and 30s should see this play” – Pablo Felices-Luna, artistic director of MYTP “It’s very approachable. There are many beautiful moments where you ask, why are you laughing, but she’s inviting you to laugh at the situation. It makes it easier to explore those difficult subjects. When you find something messy, unpleasant, uncomfortable, you keep digging. It’s called picking the scab. The humour comes from going all the way.”

Mess is a piece that is done so well, it speaks to people across many demographics. Nevertheless, it is recommended for teenagers 13 and up because it has such strong subject matter. The play’s originally intended audience is much older than the

photo provided by manitoba theatre for young people

MTYP’s usual audience age group, but when Horton performed Mess in the United Kingdom, she noticed that school groups were coming to the play because parents and teachers wanted to open the floor for a conversation and educate children.

“It’s smart, relevant, funny. It [is] not just for teenagers, but for me too, a 40-year-old plus man,” said FelicesLuna. “People in their 20s and 30s should see this play. It’s important

and compelling work.”

Felices-Luna describes most MTYP’s plays as for people of all ages and that the “Y” in MTYP deters people from coming to see plays they assume are only intended for children.

He encourages everyone to look at MTYP’s programming to find plays that are interesting and offer a good time away for friends and family.

“When the work is done right, it tells the same story, just taken in dif-

ferent ways. Sometimes people think the work is just for children but when we do it right, it is for everyone.”

For information on tickets and show times, visit mtyp.ca

Sarasvati Productions’ One Night Stand series offers a space for feedback on theatre performances Two University of Manitoba student playwrights to be featured in revamped production Tobi Nifesi, staff

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n Thursday, Feb. 2, Winnipeg The selection process began with a Manitoba faculty of arts fourth year fictional but that being said, there are experimental and transfor- call for submission announcements, student, and PhD candidate Kristy some things in it that I have incormative theatre company Sarasvati the deadline for which was on Jan. Cameron are two of the six local play- porated in it from some of the crazy Productions will be relaunching their 15. Several writers sent in their pieces wrights debuting scenes of their the- things I have heard people say,” said One Night Stand series at the Prairie or works-in-progress and the series’ atrical works-in-progress at the series. Roden.

Theatre Exchange’s Colin Jackson production team At One Night studio. The theatre production com- made their picks Stand, she will be “This series will help to get immediate pany had put the series on hiatus for based on the debuting the opena few years but are looking to offer plays’ respecing scene of her play. feedback and there are people from all three One Night Stand events this year. tive character The play’s title was walks of life who will be there, people from Sarasvati Productions’ One Night development. inspired by a stateStand event is an evening of exposi“ Tr y ing to ment a friend of different backgrounds” – Marjorie Roden, tory and premature performance. select just six Roden’s made durIt involves playwrights and actors to program for ing her first year playwright and faculty of arts student debuting snippets of their work for our first event as a student living the entertainment and assessment was a pleasantly in residence that of others, thus providing a safe and unpleasant task, as I got to read a lot Roden, who is currently major- compared life in residence to life in vibrant space to test run their plays. of great work and had to make some ing in film studies and minoring in a fishbowl.

“I think this idea is so much fun tough decisions,” Carnevale said. theatre, is excited to be shortlisted Roden, who is currently workand I am excited to introduce it to “Ultimately, what all the pieces in for the series and looks forward to ing on additional scenes for her play, the next generation of theatre artists,” this first series have in common is getting immediate feedback about hopes it is developed into a staged said Tatiana Carnevale, the series that they manage to pack a whole lot her play, Life in a Fishbowl, a dramedy production soon. Nevertheless, she producer. of action and character development centered around the complexities of is excited to showcase an excerpt of The first of this year’s edition of into 10 minutes or less. These works students’ residence lifestyles. her play at the event. the series will feature six ten-min- prove that you don’t need three acts “[It] is a play about what life can be “I honestly did not expect it to get ute performances of plays written to have a play.” like in a dormitory. It is about how in. This series will help to get immeby local and upcoming playwrights.

Marjorie Roden, a University of simply complex life could be. It is diate feedback and there are people

from all walks of life who will be there, people from different backgrounds. I think it is a great opportunity and I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of it.”

Kristy Cameron is a University of Manitoba PhD in English candidate. The upcoming writer – whose latest short story “Sewing Factory, Circa 1880-1980” was published in Prairie Fire literary magazine – will be showcasing an excerpt of her new play: Jump or You’ll Die Laughing: A Tragicomic Short for the Endlessly Heavy Hearted.

The relaunch of One Night Stand will kick off at 7 p.m. on Feb. 2, at Prairie Theatre Exchange’s Colin Jackson Studio. The series is open and accessible to everyone and entrance will be by-donation. For more information about Sarasvati Production’s One Night Stand series, visit sarasvati.ca/ one-night-stand-returns

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Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor: Tobi Nifesi Contact: arts@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

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Sports Sports Editor: Ryan Stelter Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Bisons split Dinos in pivotal series Manitoba sits three points back of Dinos after the weekend Jason Pchajek and Ryan Stelter, staff

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n a key battle for home ice advantage in the playoffs, the University of Calgary Dinos and the University of Manitoba Bisons took to the ice at the Wayne Fleming Arena this weekend. The Bisons won 4-3 on Friday night, but fell 7-6 in overtime on Saturday afternoon.

Friday

Following their thrashing of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns last weekend, where the Bisons outscored their opponents 13-3, the herd was back on the ice Friday to take on the Dinos. It was a black and blue affair throughout, but the Bisons came out on top 4-3.

The Bisons got on the board first seven minutes into the game with a Brett Brooks goal. Brooks shot from the side of the net, catching Calgary goalie Steven Stanford at an odd angle; he appeared to snag the puck but it snuck by him.

Calgary responded moments later on the power play after Brett Stovin took an undisciplined boarding penalty. A mad scramble in front of the Bisons’ net led to a shot from the side.

Bison goalie Byron Spriggs got on it but the puck popped behind him and Adam Kambeitz of the Dinos pounced on the loose puck.

Manitoba restored their lead when Stovin won the draw back and the puck slid towards the slot. Shaq Merstay stepped into a shot and hammered the puck top corner on Stanford.

Defenseman Adam Henry

extended the lead near the end of the second frame when the Bisons broke into the Dinos’ zone with a three-ontwo. Winger Shawn Bowles sent a cross-ice pass to Henry, who ripped a shot low glove-side on the Calgary netminder.

“We showed character, resiliency, belief in each other to come back” – Mike Sirant, Bison men’s hockey head coach Dylan Walchuk then scored a power play marker for the Dinos. He caught a pass drifting through the left faceoff dot, ripping a shot top corner on Spriggs to make it a 3-2 game.

The two-goal Bison lead was restored in the opening moments of the third. Stovin dangled the puck through the legs of two Dinos defenders, getting the puck low to Merasty. The six-foot-five forward centered the puck from the corner to Channing Bresciani, who hit it past the low blocker on Stanford.

The Dinos notched a shorthanded goal late in the game but fell to the Bisons 4-3. The final ten minutes of the game were physical, as tempers ran red hot.

“It’s intense, there’s a lot on the line,” Bison head coach Mike Sirant

photo by Star Roxas

said postgame. “We have to play with controlled passion. We need to play aggressive and relentless, but we need to play with that controlled passion.”

Walchuk knotted the scores at two 49 seconds into the second after he sniped over Spriggs's shoulder from the top of the circle. The Dinos reclaimed the lead when Drydn Dow Saturday scored his fourth goal of the year on A barn burner on Saturday after- the power play. The Dinos added two noon saw the Bisons and Dinos more goals in the second to make it combine for 13 goals, with the Dinos 5-2 after 40. coming out on top 7-6 in overtime.

After giving up a shorthanded goal, The Dinos drew first blood on the Bisons were down 6-2 early in the Saturday five minutes into the open- third. Brad Bowles then cut into the ing frame. Late in the second, former Dinos’ lead with a scrappy rebound goal.

Steinbach Piston Quinton Lisoway A couple shifts later, Jordan DePape tied things up with a short side shot pounced on a rebound at the side of the on rookie goaltender Matt Greenfield. net to make it 6-4. Defenseman Blake The next shift, Stovin split the Dinos Heinrich made it 6-5 after firing a short defensmen and backhanded a shot side shot on the rush, forcing the Dinos over Greenfield’s pad. to call a timeout.

Liam Bilton tied the game at six with seven minutes remaining in the game as he showed great patience on the rush. Cain Franson broke Bison hearts with a backhand goal in the second overtime period.

“That’s a tough loss for our boys, that one stings,” Sirant said after the game. “We showed character, resiliency, belief in each other to come back.”

The Bisons go on the road to play the league-leading Saskatchewan Huskies on Feb. 3-4.

Fifth ranked Bisons crush playoff dreams of Dinos with weekend sweep Jason Pchajek, staff

photo by Chantal Zdan

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ollowing a lopsided weekend where the Bisons swept the University of Lethbridge, the herd were back on the road to close out their season series against the University of Calgary Dinos.

Manitoba won 4-2 on Friday night and edged the Dinos 2-1 on Saturday; the Bisons now sit in second place in the Canada West, eight points behind UBC.

Friday

Entering Friday night’s action, the Dinos were still fighting for a playoff spot, but these dreams were dashed by a 4-2 Bison win.

Manitoba opened the scoring midway through the first off the stick of Courtlyn Oswald. Oswald stepped out from behind the net and ripped a backhand shot over the blocker of Kelsey Roberts.

Lauryn Keen extended the Bisons’

lead in the second with her seventh goal of the year. Jayden Skoleski’s shot was stopped by Roberts but the rebound found its way onto Keen’s stick who made it 2-0.

The Dinos clawed back into the game with two goals a minute apart.

First Sara Craven used a spin move to elude defenders, putting a shot past Rachel Dyck. A minute later, Merrissa Dawson unloaded a slap shot on goal and her shot hit Kira Makuk in front, deflecting past Dyck to tie the game 2-2.

Manitoba took over in the third, shutting down the Dinos offence.

Jordyn Zacharias got her team back in front. Venla Hovi scooped up the puck, taking it end to end and dropping it to Zacharias. Zacharias got the puck in tight, sneaking a shot by Roberts to make it 3-2 Bisons.

Keen picked up her second of the game with an empty netter as the herd took the game 4-2. The loss knocked the University of Calgary out of the playoff hunt.

Saturday

Roberts stood on her head, stopping 27 Bisons shots across that 30 minute span, but the 28th got through.

Karissa Kirkup of the Bisons got in on goal, used a nifty move on Roberts and ripped one by her. The goal was Kirkup’s seventh of the year and tied the game 1-1.

The Bisons got the lead late in The 2-1 score line the second on the power play. The held, as the Bisons Hovi, Keen, and Zacharias line was at work again. Hovi got the puck down walked away from to Keen who fed Zacharias in front. the weekend winners Zacharias settled down a hot puck firing home the 2-1 goal. of four straight The 2-1 score line held, as the Bisons walked away from the weekend winners of four straight.

Game two of the weekend was With three points on the weekend, scoreless throughout the first 30 min- Keen gains a cushion atop the Canada utes of the game, and it was Calgary West scoring race. She now sits at 28 who got out ahead first. Dawson got points on the year, four points ahead the puck down low from Cheyann of Alberta’s Alex Poznikoff.

Newman and put a shot on goal.

Dyck got a piece of it, but bobbled The Bisons will be back at home the puck and it somehow found its on Feb.3-4 for a matchup against the way behind her. fourth-placed Saskatchewan Huskies.

Saturday afternoon the Bisons were back on the ice looking for the weekend sweep. Roberts stood on her head for the home side, but the Bisons pulled off the 2-1 win.

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Sports

Sports Editor: Ryan Stelter Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Minimum wage lawsuit brings CHL treatment of players to light Jason Pchajek, staff

“The majority of our teams either break even or lose money every season,” Robison said. “We’re very concerned as to the precedent that this would set. It’s not only about the Canadian Hockey League, it’s about amateur sport in this country, and we need to protect the interests of these athletes.”

“If you were to add minimum wage to the package we provide the players, including the scholarship program, 80 per cent of our teams in the OHL and WHL would be in a loss position,” Robison added.

“I think as everyone is fully aware, many of our markets across the country and Canadian Hockey League are in small centres, many of which are under 1,000 in population. Many of our smaller markets would have a hard time operating.”

Where to go from here

graphic provided by CHL

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ensions are brewing in the country’s top level of junior hockey.

Former players from the Western Hockey League (WHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) are coming together to take on their governing body, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL).

On one side, you have the players, current and former, who argue that they should be paid minimum wage by the owners of their teams, and that the standard player agreement signed by every player should be considered an employment contract.

On the other side you have the league brass and team owners, who argue that the nature of minimum wage across the areas covered by the three leagues, and the actual financial viability of the organizations, makes the move to paying players prohibitive. This is especially true when you consider the WHL, which not only includes the western provinces but teams from the United States as well.

There are actually three connected class action suits taking place in Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. The suits involving the WHL and OHL are being handled by the same law firm, Charney Lawyers, while the QMJHL suit is being handled by a Quebec-based firm. Unfortunately little information has come out about the QMJHL suit, though it is still ongoing.

The plaintiffs: CHL players past and present

The argument posed by the players in the class action suit against the CHL is quite simple: hard work should beget fair pay.

The suit was originally launched in 2014, and argued that players should be considered employees deserving of

minimum wage. Players play, practice, travel, and appear at events, just like their professional counterparts, but do not receive any compensation for it. With seemingly even the smallest CHL teams making around two million dollars in revenue a year, it has been argued by Ted Charney – the class action lawyer in charge of the suit – that it would cost franchises in the range of $300,000 annually to pay players.

Whatever happens in the coming weeks, and in the case as a whole, has the potential to massively shake up junior hockey in this country

sioned by Charney and his legal team. In the study, Mongeon valued the Ottawa 67’s – the most valuable OHL team – at $55 million with the Edmonton Oil Kings being the most valuable WHL franchise at $51 million. However, he admitted the study was not entirely scientific, as at the time no concrete numbers existed to determine the value of teams. The study did not contain numbers on QMJHL teams, as a different law firm is handling the case in Quebec.

The study was also scrutinized due to its valuation of the OHL superpower London Knights, who consistently fill all 9,000 seats and 38 luxury boxes of the $42 million dollar John Labatt Centre.

Mongeon estimated that ticket sales would draw in $2-10 million in revenue, along with the revenue generated by sponsorships and concessions. This would allow the clubs to pay their 24 players for 40 hours a week across the season’s 25-week schedule. This would result in $281,250 per year in wages at Ontario’s $11.25 an hour minimum wage.

A copy of the motion for certification filed by the plaintiffs was released The defendants: the on their website which details their leagues and owners exact requests. In sum they would like The other side of the suit is made the court to determine if the players up of team owners and the comcould be considered employees, and missioners of the CHL, WHL and thus if by not paying them the own- OHL. They argue that the leagues ers are in violation of the Applicable simply don’t make enough money, Employment Standards Legislation across all teams, for paying minimum wage to be feasible. Likewise they of the Employment Standards Act. Further, the motion calls on the argue that the compensation package court to decide if the current and for- they provide players in terms of scholmer players involved in the suit are arships should be payment enough for entitled to wages, overtime, vacation the privilege to chase their dream at pay, and punitive damages for essen- the highest junior level. tially working for free.

The defendants argue that junior The plaintiffs gained backing early teams don’t make enough money for it on when a study by Kevin Mongeon to be possible. Sure, some teams like of Brock University was commis- the Kitchener Rangers, the Quebec

Ramparts – who sell out their 13,000 seat arena almost nightly – and the Edmonton Oil Kings could take the hit and still be somewhat profitable.

However, smaller budget teams like the Swift Current Broncos – valued at just $970,000 by Mongeon – would go bankrupt.

“The majority of our teams either break even or lose money every season” – Ron Robinson, WHL commissioner They also contend that CHL players are in fact just student athletes, such as those in the NCAA and their high school counterparts. Players do in fact qualify for a monthly stipend, along with various scholarships upon aging out of the various leagues. The stipend the defendants keep referring back to throughout court proceedings only amounts to about $40 weekly after taxes, meaning players technically make a whopping $1 per hour.

That money doesn’t really go that far, even for the thriftiest of players. In 2012, Cam Charron of Yahoo Sports tried keeping track of his own expenses to see if he could live on a stipend budget for a week and found, living very conservatively and excluding expense that would theoretically be covered by billet families, he’d spent $38.19 in that time.

WHL commissioner Ron Robison appeared on Hockey Central at Noon to discuss the case and the report commissioned by the defendants.

On Oct. 28, 2016 a Calgary judge filed a decision which would set the stage for the case moving forward. In the decision, Justice R.J. Hall ordered that all financial documents be made available to the plaintiffs.

“The defendants’ evidence has rendered these records relevant to the issues on certification, and necessary to supplement their affidavit evidence,” Justice Hall said.

“If I limited the financial production to those teams where owners or managers were affiants, it would allow the defendants to cherry-pick which teams provide financial statements and which do not.”

However this only extends to all WHL teams, as many OHL clubs are not listed as affiants. Justice Hall added that there is a way their records could be requested.

“If the defendants intend to use and rely on affidavits from OHL team representatives in this Alberta action, then all OHL teams must also provide the requested financial information,” Justice Hall said in the decision.

This decision by Justice Hall now makes all financial records of the WHL teams, and those from OHL teams listed as affiants or being used as evidence in defense, available to the plaintiffs in building their case.

This represents a major step forward in this case, as before the players and their legal team had to rely on estimates of ticket sales and team value.

Certification hearings for the case begin in Calgary, running from Feb. 7-10, with the OHL certification hearings taking place in March. If the case is certified then legal action will move forward.

Whatever happens in the coming weeks, and in the case as a whole, has the potential to massively shake up junior hockey in this country.

The CHL is still the largest producer of homegrown NHL talent, and that will not change. It doesn’t matter which side you fall on; this case will be massive, not just for the leagues and their players, but Canadian hockey for years to come.

VOL. 103 NO. 21 February 1, 2017

Sports

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Bison men’s basketball sweep fourth straight series Kellen Taniguchi, staff

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n a home series against the University of Northern British Columbia, the Bison men’s basketball team were riding a six-game winning streak. Manitoba made it eight after winning 86-85 on Friday and 77-68 on Saturday.

Friday

seconds to play. UNBC missed the final shot of the game, as the Bisons squeaked out with their seventh straight victory.

The Timberwolves made 13 threepointers in the game, which was a major factor to keeping the game close.

“We knew they were a three-point shooting team, that’s what they do,” Bison head coach Kirby Schepp said. “They shot it really, really well, because they got great open shots, so we need to look at that and hopefully make some corrections.”

On Friday, the Bisons escaped with an 86-85 win over the UNBC Timberwolves. Both teams opened the game shooting well, exchanging looks throughout the opening frame.

Neither team was able to go on a run, but the Bisons were able to exit the first quarter with a two-point lead.

It was in the second quarter where the home side pulled away a bit; “Certainly the first Manitoba went on a 13-0 run within half, I think we the frame to build a 12-point lead. really defended AJ Basi powered the team’s second quarter with 12 of his team-high 23 well” – Bisons head points. The Timberwolves got back into the game, and cut the lead to coach Kirby Schepp nine entering the half. The visitors connected on eight of eleven threepoint shots, with Marcus MacKay Saturday hitting four of them, to keep the team On Saturday, the Bisons extended in the game. their conference win streak to eight Mackay hit his first three three- games, by defeating the UNBC Both teams shot under 50 per point shots to open the third, and Timberwolves 77-68 in the second cent for the first half, resulting in a finished the game with a game-high game of their weekend set. With low-scoring 34-26 lead for the Bisons 28 points, helping UNBC remain in the win Manitoba improved to 10-6, 20 minutes in. Justus Alleyn scored striking distance. UNBC went on while UNBC dropped to 4-12 in con- seven of his 19 points in the first half an 11-2 run in the third quarter, cut- ference play. to lead the Bisons, while Rhys Elliot ting the lead to just one point, and Defence was strong for both netted eight of his 19 for UNBC. eventually took a 72-70 lead into the teams during the first half, with the The offence came alive in the secfinal quarter.

Bisons allowing just two UNBC ond half, with both teams shooting Manitoba trailed for the majority three-pointers to fall, a day removed above 50 per cent in the third quarter. of the fourth, but down 85-82, Basi from giving up 13 total. Manitoba also Basi led the Bisons in the third with and Ilarion Bonhomme both went forced a lot of turnovers in the open- two three-pointers. With the teams 2-for-2 from the free throw line to ing half, and were able to capitalize exchanging shots, no real dent was take an 86-85 lead with under 30 by scoring 12 points off of them. made in the Manitoban lead until the

photo by Star Roxas

visitors ended the frame on a 9-0 run, cutting the lead to just four points entering the fourth.

UNBC didn’t stop battling, but each time they scored to bring the game closer, the Bisons seemed to make a much-needed basket. Keith Omoerah and Jonathon Alexander made clutch shots late to ensure the herd’s victory.

Manitoba’s defensive play improved signif icantly from Friday night’s win over these same Timberwolves.

“Certainly the first half, I think we really defended well,” Schepp said postgame. “We need to play better offensively, I thought we weren’t really cohesive as a unit. That’s probably the next piece for us we need to get better and better at.”

Manitoba will be back in action Feb. 3-4, when they travel to Brandon to take on the Bobcats.

Bison men’s volleyball team stays hot, women’s losing streak continues Ryan Stelter, staff

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his weekend, the University of Manitoba volleyball teams were in Brandon to take on the Bobcats.

The men won handily, not dropping a single set all weekend to bring their current win streak to 16. The women lost 3-1 on Friday and 3-0 on Saturday; they have now lost six in a row.

Men

The third-ranked Bisons were riding high coming into this weekend, and they kept the momentum going on Friday when they crushed the eighth-ranked Bobcats in three straight sets, perhaps the toughest coming in the third when they won 26-24. Devren Dear led the way for the Bisons with 15 kills, as well as nine digs. The Bisons had a team hitting percentage of .258, compared to the .136 of the Bobcats.

It was more of the same on Saturday, as the Bisons dismantled their provincial rivals in three straight sets again. Adam DeJonckheere led the way for Manitoba with 12 kills, he

has now cracked the top 15 in career conference points with 1179.

Manitoba has clinched a playoff spot with their pair of wins this weekend, and because Trinity Western lost a match to Alberta this weekend, the Bisons move into top spot in the Canada West. The Bisons have only lost 14 sets all season, and won 51 – a conference best.

It was more of the same on Saturday, as the Bisons dismantled their provincial rivals in three straight sets again Women

The Bison women were looking to snap a four-game losing skid heading

into this weekend but were unable to do it. They won the the first set on Friday, but then lost every single one after that. They fell 3-1 on Friday, even though they dominated the serving with six aces compared to Brandon’s three.

On Saturday, the Bisons were swept out of Brandon after they fell 3-0. They only scored 32 points and were out-served, out-hit, and simply outplayed. The Bobcats only committed four errors all game, whilst the Bisons committed an astonishing 26.

They had a negative hitting percentage in two of the three sets played.

A weekend to forget for Manitoba, as they are now 1-7 in the calendar year. The Bisons are tied for tenth in the Canada West with 12 points, two points out of a playoff spot.

The Bisons host the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack on Feb. 3-4 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre. photo by Chantal Zdan

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Sports

Sports Editor: Ryan Stelter Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Bison Geoff Gray shines at the East-West shrine game Ryan Stelter, staff

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eoff Gray has been a key mem- never missed a game due to injury ber in the Bison offensive line during his time with the Bisons, and this past season, so much so that he has dressed in a total of 32 conference is currently ranked fifth by the CFL games. He has shown his ability to Scouting Bureau for the 2017 draft. play different positions on the offenGray also played in the prestigious sive line, as he has played as a right East-West Shrine game in Florida a guard, right tackle, and left tackle. couple weeks ago.

The East-West Gray was one of shrine game is the “That’s the end goal, longest running the two U Sports representatives but I can get on an universit y allat the game, as star game in the NFL team a number United States. It he was joined by Laval’s tight end of different ways” – has been going Antony Auclair. on since 1925, and Geoff Gray, Bison Gray is the fifth was originally Bison to attend the Top left: photo by Jeff Miller Above: Graphic by Bradley Wohlgemuth started to raise offensive lineman event down south, money for the 22 as he joins the like Shriners hospitals organized, the way it’s run, just so The game was a good opportunity know,” he said. “There’s a lot that can of current NFLer David Onyemata, in Canada, the United States, and much more meaning to everything. for Gray to meet some of the NFL happen until [the draft]. That’s the who attended last year. The list also Mexico. Seventy players from last It was a lot to take in, but I really just scouts in attendance. end goal, but I can get on an NFL includes former Chicago Bear defen- season’s game signed contracts with tried to focus on the football.”

“This was the first time any of team a number of different ways.”

The six-foot-six lineman thinks them met me face-to-face,” he said.

The NFL draft is a few months sive lineman Israel Idonije, defensive NFL teams, including Manitoba’s lineman Evan Gill of the Hamilton Oneymata, after he was drafted in that his performance at the game “Different teams were more familiar away, scheduled to take place in Tigercats, and 1991 CIS lineman of the fourth round by the New Orleans helped his stock with the NFL scouts with me than others, but that’s just Philadelphia on April 27-29 where the year Jason Rauhaus.

Saints. down south. the nature of it.”

Gray could potentially be selected.

Gray talked about his experience The 22-year-old native of “I definitely think what I did down Gray hopes that playing in this The CFL draft will take place a couWinnipeg was named a Canada West playing at the East-West game at a there improved my [stock],” Gray said. game gives him a chance to be drafted ple weeks later in May, where Gray “There was a lot of scouts who weren’t by an NFL team, but is not putting will most likely hear his name called. all-star this past season, as well as press conference last week. being named the conference’s best “Football down there is unlike familiar with me or hadn’t seen my all his eggs into the draft basket. down lineman. He was also named anything I’ve experienced up here film. All the feedback I got was really “It would be nice for it to lead to a U Sports All-Canadian. Gray has [in Canada],” he said. “The way it’s positive.” me being drafted but you never really