Follow-up to yesterday's wrap-up

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Based on some of the comments on the last blog post, I think a couple things need clarification.

The McGill PGSS delegation does include Jose Barrios (PGSS researcher and a University of Victoria student, he was behind the CFS referendum campaign there), Dean Tester (Carleton student and right-wing blogger) and Erin Hale (McGill undergrad and reporter for the McGill Daily).

However this wasn’t the issue that nearly prevented McGill from being let in yesterday. Instead it was the so-called “reform” package, and some of the provisions in there that would have affected CFS staffers.

PGSS’ lawyer said the contract was illegal because it would have prevented members of a corporation from attending its AGM and the CFS seemed to agree, allowing them in after recieving the lawyer's letter.

The PGSS delegation also includes the Society’s president and VP external.

As for the Kwantlen students, the point was that they didn’t get rooms. Despite paying for them, they weren’t able to get rooms in the conference hotel. They’re in a hotel down the street. CFS has told them they will not refund any of their fees (over $800 per person). So they’re paying twice for hotel rooms.

So why didn’t I talk about the speech from the president of the Canadian Association of University teachers or the head of Canada Student Loans?

Well since I write for a Quebec publication and a Quebec audience, who don’t get Canada Student Loans, it’s not really relevant to our audience. I did mention (on Twitter) that CSL is currently in negotiations with the Quebec government to transfer some of the funds earmarked for the new Canada student grants to Quebec. The province doesn’t participate in almost any Federal programs and instead receives funding from Ottawa to conduct their own programs.

The Quebec student aid program is centered around needs based grants (up to $9,000 per year) and loans (up to $2,400 per year), so the issues affecting Canadian students around student aid really don’t apply to us.

As for the speech by James Turk, executive director of the CAUT, I think this goes to what I was saying yesterday about having multiple reporters cover things, not everyone is going to come away with the same story. If something’s being reported by someone else, as it clearly was, there’s no reason for us to repeat it. Plus I don’t think Turk’s speech really had anything new in it. The CAUT supports the CFS and thinks education should be free. That’s old news.

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Comments

Yes, I must ask - why does PGSS employ a UVic student as a researcher? Does this UVic undergrad know a lot about the research funding graduate students in Quebec receive? Does he know about provincial PSE policy? When was he hired as a researcher and what qualifications does he have? Seems really sketchy. PGSS council has not approved paying the delegate fees of any non-PGSS member, so I wonder if this UVic student paid himself!!

Also, I think the interesting point is that you chose to focus on these bizarre minor occurrences. I imagine at any meeting of 400+ people, room booking glitches occur. I'm curious why that is the BIG story!!

EKS

11/26/09 11:54 PM

this all sounds pretty fishy... a legit lawyer allowed for you, a member of the press, to report on his advice? What is he a second year McGill student? And nice use of the word "seemed" in "and the CFS seemed to agree." What this means is that you have no idea what went down and you're entirely guessing. That's hardly enough information to publish something, and an embarrassingly amateur move for someone who holds a position with CUP to make.At least you're not even trying to hide the fact that you're biased on this one. You seem to be pretty concerned that the KSA was inconvenienced because they didnt register properly, but not too interested in the fact that delegate fees were paid from McGill grad students money for Tester, Hale and Barrios to attend the meeting. Who flew him in, by...