March 31st, 2011

Page 1

Jordan Kozina set to bike across Canada to raise money for MS. Please see pg. B1 for story

McMASTER UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

www.thesil.ca

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011

EST. 1930

FROM CAMPUS TO YOU AND BACK AGAIN

VOLUME 81, NO. 26

Liberal party promises student grants

On the agenda

Federal election platforms emerging

On Sunday, March 27, TVO’s The Agenda came to Innovation Park to host a symposium on the upcoming provincial election. Coupled with a broadcast of the program from James St. North’s Liuna Station the next day, the event represented the Hamilton installment of AgendaCamp, an initiative to let regular citizens determine the topics discussed by politicians candidates on the show. See pg. A3 for the full story.

SAM COLBERT

SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

Is $1,000 a year enough to buy the student vote in this year’s federal election? Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has promised $4,000 in taxfree grants to every student entering post-secondary education; $6,000 if the student comes from a lowincome family. The “Canadian Learning Passport” will be provided through the Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP), and it will not require matching funds from the recipient. The announcement has been one of the few big stories to emerge from the back-and-forth debate over whether or not a Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition will take power from a Harper minority after the May 2 federal election. An outright denial of the possibility by the Liberal leader on March 26 has evidently not been sufficient reason for putting the matter to rest. The $1 billion plan is simple, say its proponents. It’s about direct federal government-tostudent funding, no strings attached. Prime Minister, Stephen Harper and his Conservatives, though, have been quick to point out the plan’s drawbacks. To promise this kind of funding, Ignatieff has noted that, in addition to a roll back of planned corporate tax cuts, some tax benefits students currently receive will be eliminated. Some estimates put the total tax benefit loss to families close to $700-million. Further, the plan doesn’t address federal-toprovincial education transfers or tuition levels. The Liberals have responded to criticisms by pointing out that direct funding will be of more value than tax benefits to students of lower income, who pay fewer taxes in the first place. Talk of post-secondary investment has emerged in other levels of government as well. The McGuinty government unveiled the Ontario budget on March 28, which included a plan to add 60,000 more spaces for students over the next five years in colleges and universities across the province through an investment of $309 million. Campus spaces at McMaster are jammed already, meaning that funding might be better spent on improving current capacity. But with some estimates saying that 77 per cent of new jobs will require post-secondary education, demand for degrees is showing no sign of slowing. Until the May 2 federal election, parties will unveil promises similar to the Learning Passport that are intended to target various demographics of the electorate. The Conservatives have already come forward with small-business tax break proposals, while the NDP has promised to limit credit card interest rates.

JONATHON FAIRCLOUGH / ASST. PHOTO EDITOR

President Deane: Year in Review FARZEEN FODA

versity as Vice-Principal (Academic) in 2005. Now, after one year as On July 1, 2010, Patrick Deane was President of McMaster University, named President of McMaster Uni- Deane expressed his outlook on versity. Deane came to McMaster, the year. “The time has passed very succeeding former quickly and I have McMaster Presibeen very pleased dent Peter George, with the ease with I wanted to who after a life which I feel I’ve setlearn as much as tled into the Univerlong commitment I could about to McMaster in sity. It’s a very welvarious capacities coming community the institution in completed his 15th and the people have order to decide year as president of been generous with in what the University on their time, generous June 30, 2010. in their welcome direction my Deane emand very open with leadership should advice and informaigrated to Canada in 1978 from South tion, which is exactmove.” Africa where he ly what I’ve needhad studied English ed,” said Deane. His and Law. In 1980, Deane completed first year at McMaster was intended his MA at University of Western to be a learning experience and an Ontario in English Literature, and opportunity to familiarize himself completed his Ph.D, in 1985. Lat- with the University, which he feels er, Deane joined the University of has been quite successful. Western Ontario as a faculty mem- “I wanted to learn as much ber, after which he was appointed as as I could about the institution in orchair of the Department in 1997. der to decide in what direction my In 2001, Deane proceeded leadership should move,” he said, to become Vice-President (Aca- hoping to consolidate everything demic) at the University of Winni- he has gathered during his time at peg, then Acting-President in 2002, McMaster in order to map out a Patrick Deane reflects on his first year as McMaster’s president. after which he joined Queen’s Uni• PLEASE SEE DEANE, A5 ASST. NEWS EDITOR

CHRISTOPHER CHANG / SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR

[This Week in the Sil] Backpacking tips Travel genius Jonathon Fairclough gives some helpful tips on how to backpack through Europe on a budget. Pg. A7

Getting rich on YouTube

Shad gets it

Is the future generation of fame and fortune going to be attained online though YouTube videos? Pg. C7

London, Ontario rapper takes home a Juno award after entering the contest as the underdog. Pg. D12


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March 31st, 2011 by The Silhouette - Issuu