News
Read the latest news in BC post-secondary education.
Northwest mourns loss of Patti Barnes
Faculty, staff, friends and family are mourning the loss of Patti Barnes, Head Librarian at Northwest Community College, who passed away this week following a battle with cancer. “Patti achieved great success at Northwest. She excelled in her discipline, but also showed enormous commitment and compassion for her community. She was instrumental in establishing the…
NDP platform signals new direction for post-secondary education
“Improving affordability and access are two priorities that our Federation wants to see addressed by the major parties in the up-coming provincial election,” said Cindy Oliver, President of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators. “The platform document released by the NDP shows some important commitments by that party to address those priorities,” Oliver added. “The platform…
Court Rejects Premier Campbell’s Election Gag Law
There’s a pattern developing in Victoria, but unfortunately our Premier doesn’t seem to see it. The pattern is that Premier Campbell uses aggressive legislative measures that are later found by the courts to be unwarranted or over-reaching his legislative authority. The latest legislative mishap involved the Premier’s amendments to the Elections BC Act. In…
International Women’s Day: Solidarity and a celebration of women’s rights
For more than a century, the women’s movement has worked to raise awareness and build solidarity for their struggle to secure equality, rights and respect for women. International Women’s Day has become a focal point for that struggle, a time to not only celebrate the gains made by women in their fight for equality, but…
United Way honours FPSE and Kwantlen Faculty Association
For over 30 years the labour movement has shown tremendous support for communities through a valuable partnership with United Way. On February 26th, the United Way acknowledged the leadership role that various unions have played in building a strong community partnership. The awards are called the Union Spirit Award and it recognizes a union committed…
Latest budget ignores real problems
Change is good. So too is truth. Too bad this year’s provincial budget didn’t have much of either in it. That sentiment pretty much summarizes the reaction of many at the Victoria Conference Centre where community groups and labour organizations spent most of February 17th in a budget “lock-up”. The annual exercise precedes the Minister’s…
Fiscal shell game leaves post-secondary empty handed
“British Columbians were looking for answers in this budget and the Minister is just offering up a fiscal shell game,” said Cindy Oliver, President of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators. “The Minister claims that there is more money for post-secondary education, but most of that money is coming from federal transfers, not new commitments from…
Investment in public education key to economic stimulus, poll shows
An overwhelming majority (86 percent) of British Columbians believe investment in public education should be a key part of any economic stimulus plan in the upcoming provincial budget, said a poll released today by the BC Coalition for Public Education. “British Columbians are saying loud and clear government needs to invest in our public education…
Poll speaks volumes, but is Campbell prepared to listen
The good news is that BC voters have some very strongly held views when it comes to education. Simply put, they place a very high value on programs and funding that provide high quality learning opportunities, whether it’s at the primary, secondary or post-secondary level. Those were some of the obvious conclusions drawn from a…
Federal budget misses the mark
This was supposed to be a defining moment for Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. Canada’s economy has ground to a halt. By his own estimates, Mr. Flaherty predicts the Canadian economy will contract in 2009. Recession-a word he pretended not to know just two months ago-is a grim reality for the growing ranks of Canada’s unemployed…