UNBC Student Newspaper

EADS AOU

by Jean-Pierre Pham

The face of Canada is about
to change dramatically.
Those who are not
psychologically ready are
going to be in for a shock.
Next month’s federal budget
is expected to start a chain of
events the will drastically
alter the Canadian welfare
state and the relationship
between Canadians and their
government. The social
programs that we have taken
for granted, such as
unemployment insurance,
welfare, Medicare, higher
education and old age
pensions will undergo major
surgery in the form of deep

cuts. The rationale behind ’

this move is an attempt by
the Chretien government to
reduce the deficit from 40
billion to 25 billion in two
years. Years of inaction on
the deficit front have resulted
in our losing our sovereignty,
as the money markets and
_our foreign creditors demand
that we deal with the huge
problem. The recent attack
on the Canadian dollar was a
strong hint for the feds to act
now or risk a deeper currency
crisis.

by Rob van Adrichem

Disappointed about the lack of a
reading break? Dreading the
onslaught of Cabin Fever? Yes?
Then the first annual UNBC
MidSemester Festival will be
right up your alley. The Festival
is designed to be both enter-
taining -and informative, and
will feature a number of free

activities open to UNBC stu--

2dents, prospective students,
and the entire community.

The main festivities are
scheduled for March 3rd and

Anyone who is advocating
higher taxes on the wealthy
and corporations as a solution
is seriously out of touch with
the new prevailing economic
determinism: governments,
especially in countries like
Canada that are so dependent
on foreign investment and
trade, can no longer afford to
raise taxes on the upper
income brackets and
corporation for feat that
capital and jobs will simply
leave the country. As a
result, social spending will be

slashed and up to 40 000 civil
servants will losé their jobs.
Moreover, we can expect
fairly drastic decentralization
as the Provinces take charge
of a number of jurisdiction
previously held by the feds.

So expect much higher
tuition fees, Medicare user
fees, lower UI and social
assistance benefits, smaller
government pensions and a
shift from universal social
programs to targeted
programs, in the next few
years. Our generation is
about to pay for the sins of
the baby boomers and for our
embrace of global capitalism.

Ath, and will include degree

program displays, student club
demonstrations, entertainment,
and activities. Watch for the
Great Paper Airplane Contest in
the Atrium of the Adminis-
tration Building, a World's
Worst Lecture Competition, and
the MidSemester Nights Dream
(an evening of acoustic music in
the Northwood Winter-Garden,
to be held March 3rd). Many
more activities and events are in
the planning stage.

The festival organizing

committee is inviting all stud- «

ents to be involved in activities
and demonstrations. If your club
would like to be part of the
MidSemester Festival activities,
contact Jennifer Hammond in
the Office of Communications
(on the main floor of the Admin
building, right behind the
elevator shaft).

Mark the first weekend
of March on your calendar, and
take an active role in ensuring
that the first annual Mid-
Semester Festival will be a big
success.

Vol. 1 Issue 6
February 8, 1995