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