Volume 144 · Issue 25 • March 30, 2011
www.thebruns.ca
brunswickan canada’s oldest official student publication.
Budget drops for the coming fiscal year Hilary Paige Smith News Editor When the 2011-2012 provincial budget dropped on March 22, there was a mixture of shock and surprise, outrage and excitement felt across the province. The Alward government’s first budget since the Sept. 27 election calls for spending cuts and revenue boosting measures to bring the deficit down to $48.8 million. Blaine Higgs, finance minister for the province, was projecting a $1 billion deficit if measures were not taken to reduce spending. “Today’s budget signifies a new direction: reversing our province’s f iscal decline and restoring New Brunswickers’ priorities and trust in government,” Higgs said in a news release issued on budget day. “Our government has inherited a spending mess that cannot be fixed overnight. We are developing a plan to return to balanced budgets within our mandate and to encourage a growing, vibrant economy.” Some of the recent budget decisions have been met with praise from New Brunswickers. The government will
be reducing travel expenses, the cost of buying smartphones for employees, boosting taxes on tobacco, investing in healthcare and creating a $30 million job creation fund. Other decisions were met with outrage, such as the government’s decision to absorb the Advisory Council on the Status of Women into the larger governing body, cuts to environmental programs, and most of all among students, cuts to postsecondary education. The province lifted the tuition freeze, allowing New Brunswick universities to increase tuition by up to $200 in the coming academic year. They also reinstated the parental contribution portion of the Student Loan application, making it more difficult for students from upper and middle-income families to receive a student loan. “I want to assure employees that the provincial government is very well aware of the excellent services they provide to New Brunswickers, but we must all share in the corrective actions that need to be taken to address our unprecedented fiscal challenge,” Higgs said.
According to the press release, “The $8.091-billion expenditure budget for 2011-12 represents a decline of 1.6 per cent from revised 2010-11 estimates. Demand and cost pressures have been offset by managing spending and implementing program restraint and efficiencies.” Full details on the New Brunswick budget can be found by visiting www. gnb.ca. Also, read inside for a studentfocused take on the provincial budget
Andrew Meade / The Brunswickan
Prof says UNB unconcerned with Arab studies, only money Colin McPhail Editor-in-Chief The UNB administration is more concerned with money of Arabic students than promoting an enriching education of Arabic culture and language. This bold statement was put forth by UNB professor Samira Farhoud after receiving mixed signals from President Eddy Campbell during a campus-wide email sent out last Monday, March 21. The email expressed the university’s condolences towards Middle Eastern students affected by the recent events overseas and offered support to any student in need. Farhoud’s initial reaction was confusion. Although the university was reaching out to the Arabic community on campus, she noted the only courses offered specific to Arab language and culture were cut. “They were very kind words. I don’t have anything against them,” said Farhoud. “But what I think is odd is that at the same time we like to help the students
and be very compassionate towards them, we cut the Arab class.” Farhoud, an Arabic and French language professor originally born in Lebanon, taught ARAB 1013 and 1023, two introductory courses focusing on Arabic language and culture. The classes were cut in January and Farhoud is currently conducting policy research instead of teaching. Upon receiving the email, Farhoud’s first act was to immediately contact the administration with her concerns. However, she has yet to receive a response. “It’s troubling for me,” she said grimly. Farhoud said the impression given by the university seems like they are more interested in counting tuition dollars. “I think they are, unfortunately, not thinking about the education. They are thinking about the money.” The university’s new Strategic Plan sets out to create a more internationalized UNB community. However, Farhoud
SEE ARABIC PAGE 3