Day of action makes noise
CRYSTAL LANGILLE
Issue date: 2/12/02 Section: News
Diane Miller, another CAW member, said she supported both present and future university students’ concerns.
“It’s our future. It’s our children’s future. People need to take control and realize what’s going on.”
In Toronto, the Queen’s University rally was supported by about 4,000 students who marched to Queen’s Park. By noon, Brock’s rally had made its way into Isaac’s where a larger amount of students had assembled and were able to hear politicians speak.
“The NDP (National Democratic Party) thinks it’s critical that you educate your family, your friends . . . about the terrible pressures you face as students,” said Niagara Centre MPP Peter Kormos, adding, “Post-secondary education has to be accessible to every student.”
“If I have to pay another $500, $1,000 … in taxes each year to ensure that every single person with skill and ability and desire can get a post-secondary education, by God I will,” he said, stressing that government policies “do not reflect the needs” of students and their futures.
The massive amount of student debt accumulated from a post-secondary education was also a major point of contention.
“More and more, it’s only those whose parents have money that are gaining an education,” said Kevin McCabe, representing the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 4207.
Daifallah said, “The Ontario government continues to dedicate itself to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP),” but McCabe said, “OSAP is the way that [the government] tries to bring you in … They know they can make money from it … It’s causing further student debt.”
By the end of the day the provincial government had made a commitment to cap tuition fees, which does not include ancillary fees.
Kormos advised that Canadians stand “Hand to hand, shoulder to shoulder, in solidarity to be sure we freeze tuition and roll back [existing] university tuition fees.”
“It’s our future. It’s our children’s future. People need to take control and realize what’s going on.”
In Toronto, the Queen’s University rally was supported by about 4,000 students who marched to Queen’s Park. By noon, Brock’s rally had made its way into Isaac’s where a larger amount of students had assembled and were able to hear politicians speak.
“The NDP (National Democratic Party) thinks it’s critical that you educate your family, your friends . . . about the terrible pressures you face as students,” said Niagara Centre MPP Peter Kormos, adding, “Post-secondary education has to be accessible to every student.”
“If I have to pay another $500, $1,000 … in taxes each year to ensure that every single person with skill and ability and desire can get a post-secondary education, by God I will,” he said, stressing that government policies “do not reflect the needs” of students and their futures.
The massive amount of student debt accumulated from a post-secondary education was also a major point of contention.
“More and more, it’s only those whose parents have money that are gaining an education,” said Kevin McCabe, representing the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 4207.
Daifallah said, “The Ontario government continues to dedicate itself to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP),” but McCabe said, “OSAP is the way that [the government] tries to bring you in … They know they can make money from it … It’s causing further student debt.”
By the end of the day the provincial government had made a commitment to cap tuition fees, which does not include ancillary fees.
Kormos advised that Canadians stand “Hand to hand, shoulder to shoulder, in solidarity to be sure we freeze tuition and roll back [existing] university tuition fees.”
