The Dialog Jan 11-24, 2012

Jan. 11 - 24. 2013

Idle No More: what it means and why it matters Spotlight on Mr. Vegas at the Massive Party

New students answer ‘Why GBC?’

Huskies grab second in basketball tournament

STUDENTASSOCIATION G E O R G E B R O W N C O L L E G E

2 Opinion

The Dialog Jan. 11 - 24, 2013

The greatest swindle in Toronto’s history

By Mick Sweetman Managing Editor

T

oronto exists because of one of the biggest swindles you can think of.

In 1787, the British Crown first made what was known as the Toronto Purchase from the Mississaugas who were the Indigenous Peoples in the region. However, this was no tidy real estate transaction, the deed for the original purchase was left blank, the exact size of land was unclear and the names of Mississauga chiefs were attached to it by separate pieces of paper. Payment for this dubious purchase was some small arms and tobacco.

In January 1794, Governor General Dorchester wrote a letter to John Simcoe, the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, stating that the blank deed was of “no validity” and called it “an omission which will set aside the whole transaction, and throw us entirely on the good faith of the Indians for just so much Land as they are willing to allow”.

In December 1794, Dorchester wrote to Alexander McKee, then the Deputy Superintendent General of Indian Affairs, saying “proceedings are so informal and irregular as to invalidate and set aside the whole transaction,” and that the deed itself was “of no validity or value.”

In 1805, a new effort was made to establish British legitimacy and

ownership of the area a new deed was drawn up dramatically expanding the area claimed by the Crown and a scant 10 shillings, roughly a days pay for a low-ranking British soldier at the time, was paid for 250,880 acres of land. The new boundaries stretched from the mouth of Ebobicoke Creek to Ashbridges Bay and 40 kilometers north to what now is approximately Highway 9.

Not only that, but the location for the purchase was selected specifically as a strategic point of access by rivers and Lake Simcoe through to Lake Huron and the profitable fur-trade that existed in the north.

The safe harbor along Lake Ontario would then facilitate easy transit of furs and other goods.

Like I said, Toronto exists because of a swindle of epic proportions.

It took another 205 years for the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation to reach a settlement with the government of Canada on their obvious claim that proper compensation was not paid for the land.

In 2010 a landmark, negotiated settlement saw the federal government pay $144 million to settle the land claim of the Toronto Purchase.

That amount was based on what was considered a fair price for the land in 1805 extrapolated to 2010 dollars.

The agreement was reached only after almost 20 years of legal requests, an official commission and negotiations between the Mississaugas of the New Credit and the federal government.

r

Dialog Reporters: Preeteesh Peetabh Singh

www.dialog.studentassociation.ca Tel: 416-415-5000 ext. 2764 Fax: 416-415-2491 sapccoord@georgebrown.ca

“Keep in mind about two-thirds of reserves in this country were set up via treaties. Those treaties are constitutionally protected. Those reserve lands are set aside for the exclusive use and benefit of band members only.” said Palmater when asked how C-45 violates treaty rights, “So the concept of surrendering those lands, either conditionally or unconditionally, is something that takes away from the exclusive use and benefit of those lands—especially if the integrity is not maintained. “ The longstanding intransigence of the Canadian government on negotiating agreements with First Nations around land claims and sovereignty needs to be radically changed. However, to replace the foot-dragging of previous policies with the unilateral take-it-or-leave-it approach that the conservatives are taking is no way forward.

What we need as a society is a new conception of nation building that rests on the dual pillars of respect for the original peoples’ sovereignty and our responsibility to create a society as partners ensuring we all equitably share the wealth and protect this great land.

It is clear that the government and corporate elites don’t share that vision and would rather continue down the profitable path of colonialism and theft. But together ordinary people can work to prevent the modern swindling of First Nations, and working-class Canadians, from happening again.

Managing Editor: Mick Sweetman SA Publications and Communications Coordinator: Mick Sweetman Dialog Published by: Student Association of George Brown College

George Brown College student newspaper

Contact in person or mail: Room E122 - Casa Loma 142 Kendal Avenue Toronto, ON M5R 1M3

As a Torontonian I’m glad that the government finally paid up, but this process of thieving colonialism is still playing out today and the righting of historical wrongs doesn’t go far enough if we don’t learn from our past mistakes and not repeat them.

Unfortunately, the recent changes to the colonial relic of “The Indian Act” by the federal government shows we haven’t learned our lesson.

The changes that the bill makes are significant covering issues such as full or partial surrender of reserve land without a vote by the majority of community members as was previously required.

Speaking to CBC radio Pamela Palmater, Academic Director of the Centre for Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University, said, “Think about it this way, say you had a First Nation of 5,000 band members and there’s a small contingency who want to make a deal with Enbridge to have a pipeline go across a community and the majority didn’t want to have that. Well, now you can now set up a vote to surrender a piece of the reserve land to allow a pipeline to go through by those handful of people.”

Palmater nails the essence of what’s happening today and how it’s the same as 200 years ago. Only instead of a profitable fur trade, Canadian and international corporations are salivating at the prospect of new mineral, oil and gas resources from northern Ontario’s ‘Ring of Fire’ to the expansion of the Oil Sands in northern Alberta.

Karen Nickel

Dialog Contributors: Mike Roy, Lama Kanj, Celia Wagner Cover photo of a young Idle No More participant at the Bluewater Bridge and border crossing in Sarnia, Ontario. Jan 5, 2013.

Photo: Mike Roy / The Indignants

The Dialog newspaper is published by the Dialog Collective under the auspices of the Student Association of George Brown College.

The collective is comprised of student editors and reporters and is responsible for the overall vision and direction of the Dialog newspaper, as it coincides with the larger vision of mission of the Student Association.

The cost of producing a monthly newspaper is in part defrayed by advertising revenue and largely subsidized by the Student Association.

Occasionally, some advertisers, products and services do not reflect the policies of the SA. Opinions expressed in the Dialog are not necessarily those of the Dialog Collective, the Student Association of George Brown College, or its editorial staff.

The Dialog will not publish any material that attempts

to incite violence or hatred against individuals or groups, particularly based on race, national origin, ethnicity, colour, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability.

Contributions to the Dialog are always welcome. We request that articles be submitted as digital copies in plain-text (TXT) or rich-text (RTF) format.

Letters to the editor can be sent in an email message to sapccoord@georgebrown.ca.

Images should be in EPS format as vector images or TIF format (Mac or PC). We request that you submit a hard copy of your work. Originals only please.

News 3

The Dialog Jan. 11 - 24, 2013

M O N D AY

T U E S D AY

W E D N E S D AY

T H U R S D AY

F R I D AY Jan.11 Unity and solidarity with Idle No More candle-light march. Starting at 8 p.m. at the big horse statue in Queens Park.

Jan.14

Jan.15

Jan.16

Jan.17

Jan.18

Casa Loma movie nooner.

10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the Student Centre.

St. James movie nooner.

10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the Kings Lounge

GBC’s next DJ competition 5 p.m. in the Kings Lounge at St. James campus.

Main event Thursdays with hypnotist Tony Lee. DJ spinning from 3 p.m. show at 5:30 p.m. in the Kings Lounge at St. James campus.

Last day to drop a course or withdraw from a program with a partial refund. You can drop a course or withdraw online via STU-VIEW

Environmental Justice Collective meeting. St. James Career Services, Workshop Room 1 7 p.m.- 9p.m.

Jan.21

Jan.22

Jan.23

Jan.24

Casa Loma movie nooner.

10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the Student Centre.

St. James movie nooner.

10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the Kings Lounge

Town hall meeting on student rights: what you should know! Waterfront auditorium, room 237 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Vibe Direct (cover band that played at frosh) 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. St. James campus, Kings Lounge

Afternoon Tea at the International Students’ Community Centre, St. James, room 165B 2 p.m. - 3 p.m

Afternoon Tea at the International Students’ Community Centre, Casa Loma, room E124 2 p.m.

Town hall meeting on student rights: what you should know! St. James Career Centre, room B155, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

DAILY

UP

GBC’s continuing education gets top marks

By Preeteesh Peetabh Singh Dialog Reporter

A

ccording to George Brown College’s (GBC) 2010-2011 annual report, the number of students registered for continuing education at the college is a whopping 36,000 whereas full-time, international and apprentice students combined make 28,336.

With 1,600 programs on offer and about 600 part-time staff in including teachers in place, GBC’s continuing education department seems to be printing money.

Kathleen Abbott, associate dean of the GBC centre for continuous learning begs to differ. She believes that apart from monetary benefits it’s also about quality education.

According to the recent Continuing Education Provincial Survey conducted by the continuing education departments of the 24 Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and

Technology. GBC has been ranked as the top metro college on four key points: helpfulness of staff, quality of courses, quality of instructors and overall ease of registration.

Other metro colleges in the race were Centennial, Humber, Seneca and Sheridan.

GBC was also graded high for technical support, reliability of course platform, usefulness of assignments, instructor’s knowledge of the subject etc. In total, continuing education at GBC scored the highest among metro colleges in 37 areas.

When asked who funds the survey Abbott said, “We have to pay for it.

The cost is pro-rated as larger colleges pay more compared to smaller colleges”. Abbott also said that most continuing education courses at GBC gets some funding by the provincial government but students do not qualify for scholarships from

GBC foundation. Continuing Education at George Brown chooses to not hire full-time faculty due to scheduling requirements of the collective agreement between GBC and its faculty.

The provincial survey is conducted once every three years. The report prepared by CCI Research Inc. states that in the winter 2012 term, a total of 61,610 students at 24 colleges in Ontario completed the survey.

“I don’t see this survey entirely as a marketing gimmick.” Said Abbott, “Yes, we do market the areas where the college does well but at the same time we also look at the areas where it performed poorly. We market the positives and try to fix the negatives.”

The student feedback helps the college keep improving. The responses are analyzed in order to review courses, teachers and curriculum.

The courses which are not so popular are dropped and new ones are introduced based on the research.

Some of the popular courses are web marketing, language, cooking, landscaping, interior designing and photography.

“These courses are taken up by the students because it interests them.

90 per cent of students already have a job and 30 per cent have their university degrees. It can start as a hobby and then some students convert it into their own business and go for a career change”, said Abbott.

Correction

In the Nov. 30 issue of The Dialog an article incorrectly stated that Tina Garrnet previously worked for the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre. The article also stated that November was Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

November is actually Woman Abuse Prevention Month. The Dialog regrets the error.

4 News

The Dialog Jan. 11 - 24, 2013

Idle No More means respecting treaty rights

By Karen Nickel Dialog Reporter

W

hen you went to bed on Dec. 5, 2012 you probably never dreamed that when you woke up on Dec. 6 Over 30,000 lakes and over 2 million rivers in Canada would no longer be protected. You were probably distracted, stressing about exams and looking forward to the holiday break. I wonder if the timing of this bill was on purpose?

Welcome to Canada’s stepped up and sell-off and accommodation of resource extraction under Omnibus Bill C-45.

Specifically, because of changes to the, Navigable Waters Protection Act, we now have only 97 protected lakes and only 62 rivers,

creeks or canals. The last Omnibus Bill, C-38, stripped environmental assessments and protections from lakes, rivers, fish and wildlife. You can rest somewhat easy, Lake Ontario is one of the lakes that is covered, (whatever that means now) but just think for a moment what it would be like if it was not under protection and no one cared that you were getting sick; the fish, surrounding plants and animals were dying; your children got rashes when they bathed or developed cancer and died young.

Canada’s Indigenous Peoples have been living this reality; mercury poisoning from paper mills, increased incidents of cancer down river from the tar sands; and they

have been resisting for years. Their fight has taken on new urgency with Bill C-45 and other pieces of legislation aimed at removing their remaining lands and the fact that the Federal government is trying to vacate their responsibility to consult communities before law changes, or development projects begin. These changes open up reserve land held in trust by the government, to corporate development, with little to no consideration, or benefit, for the communities living on the land.

It was concern for the land, air, water, animals and everyone’s future generations that brought four women, Nina Wilson, Sylvia McAdam, Jessica Gordon & Sheelah McLean (indigenous and nonindigenous women), together in Saskatchewan in October of 2012.

They discussed the ramifications Bill C-45, and other legislation the government was tabling, would have on the environment and on Indigenous Peoples’ sovereignty.

Knowing that time was pressing, they began to hold a series of rallies and teach-ins, educating communities about the effects the legislation would have for us and our children. That was how Idle No More was created; a movement to oppose the massive assault on Indigenous Peoples’ rights, a call to fight for sovereignty and to stop the environmental destruction that will affect all peoples for generations.

As learning spread through teachins, both indigenous and non indigenous communities mobilized; Idle No More called for a “National Day of Solidarity & Resurgence” on Dec. 10. It was an opportunity for indigenous grassroots communities to voice their opposition to the Bill C 45 and to reach out in solidarity with other nations and the non-indigenous community using ‘flash mob’ round dances (a dance of friendship, traditionally at gatherings) and leafleting information to engage the public and raise awareness. Grassroots activists have used these gatherings to high-

light the issue of Canada’s failure to respect treaty rights.

Treaty agreements were made between the ‘Crown’ and various First Nations in regards to land use, education, and compensation for resources. Treaties are internationally recognized agreements between nations. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (which Canada signed in November of 2010 after consistently saying No to since its adoption by the UN in 2007) states that Indigenous peoples have the “right to free, prior, and informed consent and governments have the duty to consult” before any changes can be made.

Supporting treaty rights might be the only way indigenous and nonindigenous people have to stop massive natural resources extraction and its toxic by products being dumped in our lakes. Sylvia McAdam during a Jan. 6 teach-in at the Boys and Girls Club in Calgary said, “I think our European relatives need to understand that at this time, where we are at, now that Bill C 45 is through, our last stand is the treaties. That’s the only thing protecting our lands and our waters right now”.

The Idle No More movement has brought Indigenous Peoples and non- indigenous people together to resist; through the use of ceremony and education leafleting, they are raising awareness of Canada’s ongoing colonial treatment of Indigenous Peoples. Idle No More supporters and allies are engaging in different forms of peaceful resistance, including spiritual fasts by Chief Theresa Spence of Attawapiskat and other leaders and grassroots members, highway protests, border shut downs and rail blockades. All actions are to raise awareness and inspire others to learn more about Canada’s relationship and history as it relates to indigenous peoples and how supporting aboriginal treaty rights might be the last and best way all people can save the environment.

News 5

The Dialog Jan. 11 - 24, 2013

Two similar attacks, two different reactions T

his is a tale of two rapes.

Dialog Reporter One has been widely reported, protested and has sparked a global outcry and condemnation. It inspired actions of solidarity against rape culture and decried the lack of women’s rights. The other rape has barely been noticed locally, let alone nationally or globally.

A woman in New Delhi, India, boarded a private bus and was beaten with iron bars, tortured, raped for hours, dumped and left for dead. A male companion traveling with her was also beaten. She ultimately died from the horrendous injuries she sustained. There were riots. Tear gas, batons and pepper spray were used against anti-rape protesters, which could not suppress their anger and outrage.

There was another rape, equally as horrendous, the product of sexism and racism, but the response to this woman’s suffering is deafening in its silence. Her experience of violence and rape started on the way to the store one night in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

The 36-year-old, aboriginal, single

By Karen Nickel

mother was walking when two white men in a car accosted her.

According to a post, since removed from her Facebook page, but published in an Indian Country Today Media Network report, Christi Belcourt, a friend of the victim, claimed that the two men threw objects out the window at her while calling her racist epithets like “dirty squaw”.

One of the men got out of the car, grabbed her by the hair, dragged her into the back seat and sat on her while they drove out of Thunder Bay to a secluded area where they sexually assaulted her, beat her, strangled her and left her for dead.

During the assault they told her that it wasn’t the first time they had done something like this and “it wouldn’t be the last”. They told her that “You Indians deserve to

The Dialog shortlisted for journalism award

By Karen Nickel Dialog Reporter

T

he Canadian University Press (CUP) has released the short list of nominees for their 2012 John H. MacDonald Journalism Awards and The Dialog has reason to celebrate! The awards, nicknamed ‘The Johnnies’, began in 2003 as a way to recognize excellence in journalism in the Canadian campus press.

There are 14 award categories from arts and news writing, to sports and photography. The short list names the top three nominees for each category.

A winner and two runners-up will be announced at the JHM Gala at the Appel Salon in the Toronto Reference Library

on Jan. 12. This event will coincide with the 75th CUP National Conference happening in Toronto from Jan. 9– 13.

George Brown students, staff and readers of The Dialog can be proud of our student newspaper, and especially our editor Mick Sweetman who has been nominated in the Labour Writing category for his article, “Why high school students walking out gives me hope” published in the Sept. 21, 2012 issue.

Congratulations to Mick for being recognized nation-wide for his excellence in writing and we wish him good luck at the awards.

lose your treaty rights,” in reference to the Idle No More movement. She didn’t die, but walked four hours back home to her children, then called police. She lives in fear that they’ll come back.

The world points their finger at India and condemns their religions, cultures, caste system and ultimately men in India for their behaviour towards women - minimising their own country’s incidents of rape,

‘disappearing’ their own rape victims’ suffering - in this case, one that is being investigated as a hate crime

by Thunder Bay police.

Canada’s history of missing and murdered Aboriginal women shows us this is not a rare event here. Is it possible, looking through the same lens used for the rape in New Delhi, that we have a culture that also condones the rape of women? Isn’t it time we ask that question?

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6 News

The Dialog Jan. 11 - 24, 2013

Inquiry forsakes murdered B.C. women W

a l l y Oppal, the commissioner of the B.C. Missing Women Inquiry, called its final report “Forsaken”. In it, he claimed that the women who were murdered were doubly forsaken, once by society, then by the police. Family, advocacy groups and community members say this report will make the third time.

The Missing Women Commission of Inquiry was established in 2010 after years of rallies, marches, sitins, letter writing and sustained community and family pressure on British Columbia’s authorities, to find out what went wrong, and why women ‘disappeared’ from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

With hindsight, we can see the truth. Robert William Pickton was picking up women from the lowincome, marginalized community, taking them to his farm, then raping, torturing and killing them.

Many people told the police their suspicions. In one case a woman was stabbed, got away and told RCMP everything, but charges were stayed. Because the woman was a sex worker and substance user, the Crown thought she was a bad witness. Oppal’s report was to answer what went wrong.

At the beginning of the inquiry, 18 organizations were given standing to take part in the proceedings, but the provincial government refused funding for sex worker, aboriginal , women’s and in some cases family members to participate. According to the Blue Print for an Inquiry report put out by B.C. Civil Liberties Association, West Coast Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund, Pivot Legal Society; police, RCMP

By Karen Nickel Dialog Reporter

“This inquiry was about missing and murdered Aboriginal women, I didn’t think I would have to fight to have their voices heard”

officers and government had twenty-five paid lawyers.

Family and community members accused the inquiry of being one-sided; a pro-police exercise shielding institutions from any real accountability, especially for government and law enforcement. They argued that the tone of the inquiry was set by the appointment of Wally Oppal as Commissioner for the inquiry (a former B.C. Attorney General and judge, a colleague of then government o ff i c i a l s ) .

They boycotted the process, protested being shut out of consultations and decision making. The mandate was set and the hearings took place without input from those that were most affected. The families and community groups say that justice for the marginalized women never had a chance.

Attorney Robyn Gervais, appointed to represent Aboriginal women’s interests quit the inquiry telling Global BC TV, “this inquiry was about missing and murdered Aboriginal women, I didn’t think I would have to fight to have their voices heard”. She then went on to say, “I feel like if I lend an aboriginal voice to this process it will give the public the perception that aboriginal interests were adequately represented when in fact they were not”.

Oppal’s 1400+ page report is critical of police, to a point, but not of the institution of policing. Forsaken, points to multiple failures of the Crown, RCMP and VPD in terms of, lack of leadership, resources and communication, and the list

goes on. He refers to systemic bias saying that, “The systemic bias operating in the missing women investigations was a manifestation of the broader patterns of systemic discrimination within Canadian society and was reinforced by the political and public indifference to the plight of marginalized female victims”. He also clarified that there was bias but it was “unintentional”.

To translate, it’s not the fault of the police; they are a reflection of society’s indifference and dismissive attitudes towards marginalized women. There is some truth to his statement; society at large does have preconceived ideas about Aboriginal women stemming from Canada’s history of colonization and racism. They have sexist and judgemental ideas about women who are sex workers, or who use substances and are addicted. They are also aware of how these women are spoken about, or treated, by people in authority like the police, lawyers, and politicians.

Women who are sex workers, substance users, or have mental health concerns, or are criminalised; all have stereotypes that effect how society sees them and treat them that directly contributes to the violence they face, but it is argued that you’re not supposed to act, or fail to act, based on those stereotypes if you are a member of law enforcement.

Oppal’s response to suggestions that police should do better, “… it is heartless, unfair and wrongheaded to ask the police to do better without concurrently ensuring

that we, as a society, do better”.

The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) have done work to address its failings. They held an internal review, publishing the results in 2010 and have completely redeveloped their Missing Persons Department, and now have a Sex Industry Liaison Officer. The VPD did issue an apology and stated they should have done better, sadly, other than a short statement the RCMP have been silent.

Community groups working with women in the Downtown Eastside released a statement after the press release in which read in part, “The Inquiry has been deeply and systemically flawed from the beginning. The voices and experiences of Downtown Eastside women, Aboriginal organizations and women’s groups were shut out. Family members’ needs and wishes have been, and continue to be, blatantly disregarded and disrespected, and the proceedings favoured police and police evidence. This failed Inquiry, far from assisting Aboriginal women and women from the Downtown Eastside, has ironically reinforced their marginalization”.

Oppal used ‘Forsaken’ and ‘nobodies’ in the report to explain how this could happen to somebody’s loved one. Family, community members, women’s organizations, indigenous groups, and social justice movements never called these women forsaken or nobodies. Did Wally Oppal not realize that it was society that called for action over ten years ago? That it was society that pressured government and police to investigate. Society repeatedly went to the police and city hall to say “help us!” and it was society that marched, rallied, wrote letters and demanded to know, where are our mothers, aunties, sisters and our children?

After spending $8 million on the inquiry, it seems the answer is that police screwed up, but it was society that was to blame. I’m sure the families feel better now.

The Dialog Jan. 11 - 24, 2013

New students answer ‘Why GBC?’ ed by the students. The ‘freshers’ were guided on the various services inter orientation was held for available in the college like health all the new first-year students benefits, gym membership, the bookat George Brown College (GBC) store, library and student lounge.

Students got a chance to get acclistarting in January 2013.

The orientation, or annual dean’s matized to the college campus and welcome, was held at various GBC interact with the faculty. They were campuses and was very well attend- briefed about the student support

By Preeteesh Peetabh Singh Dialog Reporter

W

“I dropped out of a veterinary technician program after the first semester at Seneca. I love animals but I couldn’t handle them. I realized that course was not for me.” said Ashley Dipchan who has taken up accounting at GBC. “GBC had nice start dates. I did not want to take a year off school.”

Photo: Preeteesh Peetabh Singh / The Dialog

“Universities do not help you find jobs. GBC is more like job training, co-op is helpful too.

Being located downtown you can make more connections which is helpful in the long run.” said John Paulino, a recent graduate from the Wilfred Laurier University.

Photo: Preeteesh Peetabh Singh / The Dialog

News 7

services like career services, job opportunities, the peer-assisted learning centre, tutoring and Disability Services.

Letting them know about athletics, clubs, the Student Association, student life, and the Student Leadership Academy was also on the agenda.

The orientation included fun and

excitement in the form of interactive games, contests and prizes.

Food and frosh kit were also handed out to all the students.

When new students were asked about why they preferred GBC over other colleges, The Dialog got the scoop.

“GBC had competitive courses which matched with my IT background. The college has a good history.” said Javed Iftekhar, who enrolled for strategic relationship marketing after having completed his BSc IT degree in Malaysia.

Photo: Preeteesh Peetabh Singh / The Dialog

According to Jen, the restaurant she worked in couldn’t run their business properly, that’s when she decided to take up business administration at GBC. “I need credentials to run a business. GBC’s location is very convenient for me; it’s just 20 minutes away from my home.”

Photo: Preeteesh Peetabh Singh / The Dialog

8 Sports

The Dialog Jan. 11 - 24, 2013

Massive: Spotlight on Mr. Vegas

By Lama Kanj

Special to The Dialog

O

n Friday, Dec. 14, the Guvernment welcomed a crowd of 600 George Brown College students and friends. Although the main room and all-ages room were packed with attendees, the room designated for house music proved to be of little interest as a meager audience was present during the night.

Neil Cumberbatch, the Student Association’s senior coordinator for Student Life said, “There weren’t as many students as the Massive in September but they seemed to enjoy this one more.”

The electrified crowd danced to reggae, soca and dancehall music while they awaited the headlining performers. Skinny Fabulous started the show with his high-energy performance. When Mr. Vegas took to the stage he was met with loud applause. The performance of his hit single “Bruk It Down,” produced a massive reaction from show-goers.

Mr. Vegas wound the crowd down with a tribute to Bob Marley as the crowd sang along to “Three Little Birds”.

I had a chance to chat with the soft-spoken, international dancehall sensation Mr. Vegas prior to his performance. I asked him how it felt to have made it from Jamaica to touring internationally. He appeared humbled as he described his rise to fame, “some of these places I’ve gone to, I’ve never dreamt of going”. When asked what obstacles he’s had to overcome, Mr. Vegas replied plainly, “to basically stay relevant for so many years”.

With a drink in hand a relaxed Mr. Vegas said, “Reggae and dancehall music has influenced a lot of communities. I just try to take people’s mind off the stress that they’re going through and just let them have a good time”. He explained that reggae music also influences education, “If you listen to some Bob Marley or Jimmy Cliff you find out what’s going on in the world”. He said that these artists shed light on important cultural and political issues.

Mr. Vegas compared his commemo-

rative album entitled Sweet Jamaica to his past releases by saying that it takes “people back to where Mr. Vegas’ inspiration is coming from. It’s a double-disc; it has one reggae disc and one dancehall disc. It’s what I grew up listening to. And of course we celebrated our 50th anniversary” – referring to the anMr. Vegas, live at Ruhr Reggae Summer 2010. Photo: Celia Wagner / flickr.com niversary of reggae music.

Asked which current artist he would collaborate with if the opportunity arose, without hesitation he replied Kanye West.

He spoke highly of Kanye West and stated, “I just like his production. He seems to be a perfectionist like myself.”

On a more serious note, I asked what his thoughts were on the topic of the LGBT community. He scrambled for a safe answer. He quickly replied, “Only God can judge and I think people are starting to realize that. Leave all judgment to God almighty.”

I asked where he sees his music heading within the next five years.

Mr. Vegas replied simply, “I just hope my music will be spreading throughout, a bigger and more international audience”. Not an unimaginable feat for someone who has already come this far.

For Mr. Vegas what makes a great song is “something that you can always remember something about it.

Something you can keep singing in your head.” With his catchy hooks and danceable music, Mr. Vegas is doing something right.

The Dialog Jan. 11 - 24, 2013

Sports 9

Huskies battle back in tournament for second

tually went on to win the Dialog Reporter consolation. he spectators witnessed a splen- The Huskies did display of basketball by the led in the first Huskies at the 35th annual basketball three quarters tournament held at George Brown with scores College (GBC) on Jan 4-5. They of 37-31 at continued their OCAA winning mo- half time and mentum in the knockout tournament 60-47 in the but failed to win the tournament, los- third quaring to Mohawk College in the finals. ter. R.E.D.A The tournament started off with an made an exaction-packed first day with eight cellent cometeams competing with each other. back in the The participants included non-OC- last quarter AA teams like Regional Elite De- and tied the velopment Authority (R.E.D.A.) and scores at 73 Dawnson College from Montreal. each at the Other participants were Fanshawe, end of time.

Georgian, Mohawk, St. Lawrence Just when K., Durham and the hosts George it seemed Brown.

R.E.D.A will On-court intensity and some off- clinch away The Huskies battled hard against the REDA squad. GBC won a nail-biter 89-88 with a court aggression were on display, with the game three-point shot at the buzzer. Photo: Preeteesh Peetabh Singh / The Dialog as the second game saw a heated in OT, Ted 31 points. tween GBC and Mohawk on Jan 5. conversation between St Lawrence Johnson shot a 3 point buzzer beater Sal Abdoulkader, GBC was all With half time score of 30-36 both coach Barry Smith and the refer- out of nowhere and won the game praise for non-OCAA team R.E.D.A teams were going strong. But Moees in the match against Mohawk. for GBC with a final score of 89-88. who gave the huskies a tough scare hawk put a lot of pressure on GBC Unhappy with the decision, Smith Huge cheers from GBC supportin the first game. “Those young guys in the second half. The Huskies had shrieked, “You guys don’t know the ers livened up the venue. Sal Abcan play basketball. They beat every some trouble rebounding and could rules!” doulkader had a game high of 32 other college in the tournament by a not put a check on the number of GBC began its tournament with a points for GBC and Abendego Lumargin of almost 20 points.” fouls. With a final score of 80-68 thriller against R.E.D.A who even- file top scored from R.E.D.A. with GBC knocked Mohawk were declared the champiout Dawnson ons of this year’s tournament. in the semi-fi- “It was a tough final game. We made nals, yet another a breakthrough at half time but had a close finish. The lot of foul trouble. Nobody wants to Huskies started lose in the finals. It hurts. We need slowly in the first to work harder as a team, need to quarter but picked know when to take charge and turn up their game in defense into offence. We need to the last three with rotate quickly enough and commuscores of 21-10, nicate well. If we do all these cor32-26, 46-45 and rectly, we will beat teams for sure”, final 67-65. said Abdoulkader who was awarded Akai Netty top the MVP in the finals. scored for GBC Abdoulkader top-scored for GBC with 16 points with 24 points followed by Dwayne whereas Frankie Harrison and Ted Johnson with 9 Gyamfi and Ab- each. Manny Campbell and Alex doulkader got 13 Reis top scored for Mohawk with 15 points each. Jaleel points each. Campbell received the Wbb top-scored MVP of the tournament for his exfor Dawnson with cellent performance throughout the 25 points. tournament.

“Those young guys can play basketball. They beat every other college in the tournament The final match by a margin of almost 20 points.” said GBC player Sal Abdoulkader about the tough of the tournament REDA squad. Photo: Preeteesh Peetabh Singh / The Dialog was played beBy Preeteesh Peetabh Singh

T

10 Business

The Dialog Jan. 11 - 24, 2013

CPP and EI increases & underemployment

By Preeteesh Peetabh Singh Dialog Reporter

Y

ou might see some new numbers in your paystubs this year.

On Jan. 1, the federal government announced a hike in Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Employment Insurance (EI) premiums. This means more money will be taken off people’s paychecks and higher payroll deductions.

Canadians earning at least $51,000 annually will contribute $49.50 more towards their CPP. This will also see an increase in the maximum contribution to $2,356.20 per year.

Employers’ contributions also move up dollar to dollar.

CPP benefits will rise from $986.67

to $1,012.50 per month for the new recipients calculated on the average yearly maximum pensionable earnings for the last five years. Those who are already receiving them will see a hike by 1.8 per cent on their benefits.

Employment Insurance will see a similar jump in premiums too. Anyone earning $47,400 or more annually will have to pay an additional $51.50 for a total EI premium of $891.12 per year. Employers will pay an additional $71.61 for a total premium of $1,247.57 per employee per year.

Small business owners might feel the pinch of this increase in EI premiums. These employers will have to pay more for each worker they

have on staff which when combined together, could become a huge number. This might lead them to cut costs by laying off staff or by increasing profit margins, meaning higher cost to the customers.

They might also consider hiring part-time staff, since the increase in premiums is made on the annual earning of an individual. Hiring part-timers will mean low wages and therefore low CPP and EI premiums for the employers. This strategy can lead to underemployment.

The EI benefits will see a marginal increase of $16 bringing them to $501 per week. The frequent users of the EI benefits might have to take up a job at 70 per cent of their previous hourly income. This could mean low

earnings, low spending and a weaker economy.

Amongst all the possible impacts of this hike, Stephen Harper’s government is set to deliver the promise it made in the 2011 election campaign by creating a new EI benefit for parents who need to take time off work to care for seriously ill children. This new benefit will provide income support for up to 35 weeks after its implementation. It is expected to come into effect by June 2013.

Canada is a tax-heavy country, it is fair on the government’s part to tax people as long as they are providing services, but why is the common man unable to access those services as easily they would like to?

Puzzles 11

The Dialog Jan. 11 - 24, 2013

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