In brief
JENELLE PETRINCHUK STAFF
UMSU approaches policy changes
During the Feb. 22 UMSU council meeting, the policy and bylaw committee presented three motions that were unable to pass.
According to the UMSU bylaws, the council cannot make changes to official policy and bylaws during an UMSU election or referendum, both of which are currently taking place at the University of Manitoba.
The first of the three motions deals with the code of conduct when dealing with suppliers through UMSU businesses. The code was distributed to councilors for their review before the next meeting.
The second motion, if passed, would allow the UMSU finance committee the responsibility of selecting charities or causes that will receive the proceeds from the EBC charity ball. Currently, UMSU council as a whole chooses the recipients.
The third motion is on five amendments that deal specifically with clarifying wording in the existing bylaws. Three of these amendments deal with the Graduate Students’ Association.
The majority of the council meeting had focused on a referendum taking place in the faculty of engineering that is calling for higher tuition fees within the faculty. The increases could amount to up to 40 per cent more in tuition per student, equalling about $1,000 more a year. Extensive debate took place regarding a motion for UMSU to take an official opposition to the proposed increases.
With a general final agreement that UMSU should represent students against the raise in fees — in accordance with the fact that there was already an official yes-side registered — the motion was eventually passed, leaving some councilors tired and eager to finish the meeting.
The policy motions will be presented again at the next UMSU meeting on March 8, 2007.
More funding for Ontario French-language programs
NADIA ARANDJELOVIC, EXCALIBUR (YORK UNIVERSITY)
TORONTO (CUP) — The government of Ontario announced increased funding for new initiatives to expand French-language post-secondary programs in the province.
In total, the McGuinty government will invest $7.5 million to support new courses, enhance teaching tools and bring attention to the francophone culture within Ontario’s French language and bilingual post-secondary institutions.
Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Chris Bentley made the announcement while at York University’s Glendon College on Feb. 19.
Ontario’s 16,700 francophone post-secondary students, plus those considering studies in French, can now access greater opportunity thanks to expanded, high-quality French-language programming,” Bentley said.
Ontario has Canada’s largest francophone community outside of Quebec, including more than 100,000 French-language students and over 12,000 students attending bilingual universities or French-language colleges within the province.
The government’s Access to Opportunities strategy, which supports francophone post-secondary students by broadening program offerings, will receive $4 million.
