The Dialog March 22-April 4, 2013 by The Dialog

March 22 - April 4, 2013

GBC student newspaper Founded 1982

Truth teller Trey Anthony ‘Climate of fear’ in Practical Nursing

Budget Students’ First Toronto’s casino wars austerity slate win SA come to GBC ‘growth killing’ elections

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The Dialog March 22 - April 4, 2013

Federal budget austerity called ‘growth killing’ By Preeteesh Peetabh Singh Dialog Reporter

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) released its 19th annual Alternative Federal Budget: Doing Better Together (AFB) on March 12. The AFB counters the views of Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s Economic Action Plan 2013 on implementing cuts to decrease deficit and balance the books by 2015. It rather focuses on government spending which would result in higher growth, job creation and even balancing the books within the same timeframe. This year’s AFB consists of 27 chapters written by over 90 contributors that look at everything from first nations reserve issues to child care to international development. Each of these chapters includes specific policy recommendations, costing them all together and putting them in a macroeconomic framework to determine the impact of each program on national deficit, national debt and employment. According to David Macdonald, the Alternative Federal Budget’s coordinator, some policies that were put in the AFB have found their way in the actual budget in the past. During the stimulus budget just after the recession in 2008, some of the options and recommendations were incorporated into the federal budget such as support to low-income seniors

This year the AFB has a big focus against “growth-killing” austerity, which is replaced by a plan that strengthens the economy and eliminates the deficit by 2016. The plan includes reduction of poverty and inequality by investing in child care, affordable housing, income supports and post-secondary education. It aims to tackle the First Nations housing, drinking water and education; implementing a long term plan in infrastructure; and lowering the unemployment rate to 6 per cent by 2014 by creating 300,000 jobs. Talking about “growth-killing” austerity Macdonald said, “One of the problem with that is when you are in a slow growth environment like you are in Canada, the government austerity becomes a part of the problem, not the solution.” Where does the money come from? The AFB includes a new top personal income bracket, closes the tax loopholes like treatment of stock options and treatment of corporate meal entertainment deductions. It brings out some of through Guaranteed Income Supple- the country.” He cited a national $10 ment (GIS). It was something that childcare program and pharmacare the dead cash on the balance sheet the CCPA had advocated for a long programs where no one pays over by raising corporate tax cuts to pretime. the counter for drugs as doable pro- crisis (2008) rates. The AFB also inMacdonald said, “Our goal isn’t that grams, which have been costed out troduces a withholding tax on money held in tax havens, inclusion of fieverything we have in the AFB, gets in the AFB. implemented in the federal budget. “The AFB is in some ways, an ide- nancial transaction tax and inheriBut more so to point out that there is alized view of the progressive world tance tax on estates over $5,000,000. a whole variety of useful programs that we could have, but it’s also very that we could implement in Canada practical and it shows how we could Download the CCPA’s Alternative and pay for them without dramatic go about implementing these pro- Federal Budget for free at http:// www.policyalternatives.ca/afb2013 increases in taxes or by bankrupting grams,” said Macdonald.

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

Dialog Reporters: Preeteesh Peetabh Singh Drop by in person or send mail: The Dialog Room E122 - Casa Loma 142 Kendal Avenue Toronto, ON M5R 1M3 www.dialog.studentassociation.ca Tel: 416-415-5000 ext. 2764 Fax: 416-415-2491 dialog@georgebrown.ca

Karen Nickel

Dialog Contributors: ,Alisha Riley, Courtney Niven & MaryGrace Falvo, Cassandra Thompson Trey Anthony at George Brown College Photo: Cassandra Thompson

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

The Dialog March 22 - April 4, 2013

M O N D AY

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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 March 22 LGBTQ Film Society: The Kids Are Alright 12:30 p.m - 2:30 p.m. St. James, room 346G Paintball 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Sgt. Splatter, 54 Wingold Ave. $15

March 25

March 26

March 27

March 28

March 29

Dialog story meeting 10 a.m. - Noon St. James, Kings Lounge (Quiet Lounge)

TTC Metropasses on sale 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. St. James - SA office room 147 Hospitality - 2nd floor next to admissions Casa Loma - room E116

Positive Vibes Relationship Workshop Noon, St. James, King’s Lounge (Quiet Lounge) A workshop examining the dynamics towards building & sustaining healthy life relationships

Regaee vs. Soca #9 7 p.m - Midnight St. James, Kings Lounge

Good Friday: college closed

April 1

April 2

April 3

April 4

Movie Nooners 10:30 a.m - 2:30 p.m. Casa Loma, Student Centre

Deal or No Deal 10:30 a.m - 1 p.m. Casa Loma, Student Centre

World Movie Wednesdays 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Casa Loma, Student Lounge All About My Mother (Original title: Todo sobre mi madre), in Spanish, Catalan with English subtitles

$800 Source design contest Last day to submit a design for The Source agenda’s cover contest. yokyere@georgebrown. ca

TTC Metropasses on sale 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. www. studentassociation. ca/OurServices/TTC. aspx

ECEC Childcare social 6 p.m. Free Ryerson Student Centre (Thomas Lounge)

Taste of the Kings Lounge 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. St. James, Kings Lounge

DAILY

Students First slate wins 12 out of 16 seats By Preeteesh Peetabh Singh Dialog Reporter

No more campaigning, no more flyers, no more posters, no more class visits, no more polls, no more ballots and no more elections. After a hustling couple of weeks at George Brown College (GBC), campus life is returning to its routine. The Student Association (SA) general election 2013 at GBC is finally over, and the results are out. 34 candidates ran for 16 positions (excluding five vacant positions) in the elections. The Students First slate registered a massive victory with 12 of their 15 candidates winning, whereas the opposition slate Unified 4 Change, managed a single consolation win for an uncontested position out of their eight candidates. Also, three out of 11 independent candidates won in the elections. Voter turnout remained low with

1430 voters over the period of five days. Community Services and Early Childhood had the lowest turnout with just 91 (3.9 per cent) ballots cast out of 2332 eligible voters, whereas Hospitality and Culinary Arts had the highest with 10.78 per cent voter participation. Incumbent board members stamped their authority on the elections with seven wins out of 10. Real Nompumelelo Kunene, Nikhil Gulati and Chris Bourque couldn’t make the cut, whereas Mohammad Ali Aumeer, Julia K. Mackenzie, Halley Requena-Silva, Nicolas Kiriakou, Thomas Hadwen, Kyle Rodgers and Coty Zachariah were re-elected. The election witnessed some major upsets. Ali Shahid surprised a lot of people piling up 668 votes (the most for any contested position) defeating incumbent board member Real Nompumelelo Kunene who added up 410 for the director of Public Relations. Geneve Gray, an independent candidate, had 536 votes in

her kitty to become the director of Finance and Operations, against the incumbent International Students’ Rep. Nikhil Gulati who managed only 400. There were some close calls too. The race between Mohammad Ali Aumeer (610) and Cassandra Thompson (514) for director of Education and Equity; Nick Dilawri (108) and Sebastian Sannes (97) for Business Rep.; Kal Bekele (81), Jessica Romanovsky (72) and Nik-Keisha Moodie (69) for Hospitality and Culinary Arts Rep. went to the wire. The difference between the winner and runner-up in the Hospitality department was only nine votes. Kal Bekele, Hospitality and Culinary Arts Rep. elect said, “In the beginning I thought I would lose. But when I tried working hard I felt confident. I thought my biggest competition was Avanish Agarwal. He was promoting hard and getting people to vote for him.” Agarwal placed fourth with 61

votes and was disqualified by the Chief Returning Officer for a major infraction surrounding his comment calling fellow candidate Yuchen Sun a “chinki” in a photograph on Facebook, which he shared publicly. “I did not know that it is considered as a racist comment. It’s a social scam on me creating an image that I am being a racist.” said Agarwal. The Election Resolution Committee met on Tuesday, March 19 and made a decision on the issue. Legal counsel was present at the meeting. “I have been invited as a guest for the meeting. Let’s see how it goes. I will let the law say what I want to say” said Agarwal before the meeting. An updated version of the unofficial elections results were posted on Wednesday, March 20, listing Agarwal as disqualified, indicating that the elections resolution committee had rejected Agarwal’s appeal With files from Mick Sweetman.

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The Dialog March 22 - April 4, 2013

Ontario’s economy needs jobs, not more cuts

By Mick Sweetman Managing Editor

A recent report published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, written by economists Trish Hennessy and Jim Stanford, slams the Ontario government’s austerity budgets and breaks down how far from solving the provinces economic woes - cuts actually exacerbate them. The report, aptly titled More harm than good: Austerity’s impact in Ontario, deconstructs how the muchtouted Drummond report manufactured a projected $30 billion deficit out of what even the Liberal government now says is a much smaller $11.9 billion shortfall. The report isn’t shy in its conclusions. It reads, “the Drummond report converted a modest, manageable deficit into an impending fiscal trainwreck. In short, the deficit hysteria that has dominated Ontario fiscal debates since the last election is utterly unwarranted.” The report instead argues that the best way to improve the health of government coffers is to get more people in Ontario back to work in secure full-time jobs that pay a decent wage. It’s a proposition that makes a lot of sense; the more people working in Ontario, the more people are paying taxes and buying goods, which creating more jobs, instead of relying on government services. The report takes a hard look at Ontario’s employment rate since the 2008 recession and, using Statistics Canada data, comes to the conclusion that Ontario is still short a staggering 250,000 jobs. Not surprisingly, young workers are getting the worst of Ontario’s terrible labour market with a youth unemployment rate at 17.1% in December—double Ontario’s overall rate. The report states, “high student summer unemployment is undermining youth’s efforts to gain experience in the work force and earn money to pay for tuition.” Astonishingly, this is the backdrop for the government canceling one of its long-standing youth employment

programs. The popular work-study of how cuts to corporate and highprogram was downloaded to univer- income personal tax rates have cresities and colleges last year in the ated a loss that now totals $17 billion 2012 budget. a year. Instead the Liberals are now touting The report recommends a number a program inherited from the Mike of ideas to overcome the stagnation Harris era, the Summer Jobs Pro- of Ontario’s economy. The first is to gram, which provides a $2-an-hour increase public capital spending to wage subsidy to employers. create jobs and “rebuild aging infraThat’s right, in the middle of one of structure before disaster strikes.” the worst recessions in recent mem- It also recommends increasing Onory the Ontario Liberals are cutting tario’s minimum wage and indexing youth employment programs with it to inflation; updating the Employone hand and patting themselves on ment Standards Act and banning rethe back with the other for a Tory program that’s subsidized profitable private employers for over 15 years. What slight of hand the Liberals have up their sleeves in the upcoming provincial budget remains to be seen, no doubt they will have some sort of youth employment gambit on the table, but the question will be if it actually creates new meaningful jobs or just subsidies a dead-end, low-wage service sector. On post-secondary education, the auIt is easy to use Humber’s pathways thors project that the to turn your diploma into a degree. fees for university Apply for advanced standing by education will to rise to $9,000 a year by transferring your college credits into any 2015. one of our 12 business degree programs. Hennessy and StanYour diploma does not have to be ford caution, “for a degree-related to VIP your way into government talking our degree programs. about transforming * Those who qualify will receive a one-time scholarship postsecondary educaof $2,500; the only one of its kind in Canada. tion, its core challenge will be to address the problem it helped create.” Part of that challenge will be for political parties, including the NDP, to find the courage to reverse the tax cuts that have damaged Ontario’s fiscals business.humber.ca/scholarship since the mid-90s. The report is damning in its illustration

cruitment fees for temporary migrant workers; and crucially targeting industrial development in key sectors including manufacturing, tourism and biotech noting that is how Germany and Korea have expanded exports in a tough global market. As long as the drum beating against the deficit drowns out alternative solutions the economy in Ontario is going to get worse before it gets better. It’s time to march to the beat of a different drummer.

TURN YOUR DIPLOMA INTO A BUSINESS DEGREE WITH A $2,500* SCHOLARSHIP!

The Dialog March 22 - April 4, 2013

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News 5

‘Climate of fear’ in Practical Nursing program tive skills’ criteria.” Another difficulty mentioned in the report was in accessing professors for clarification, support and reviewing tests. Students have ten days after receiving it to appeal their grade. Delays in the process can be substantial. This was the case for PN student Clarissa Lovell, who had to put a semester on hold due to a serious family illness. She failed the pre-grad test and contacted her professor for a review to understand her mistakes. She was never given that opportunity. On her return to complete the fourth semester she had to write the pre-grad test again; she failed. According to emails forwarded to The Dialog from Lovell, she had been trying to get answers to when she can finish her fourth semester and what her status in the program is since March of 2012. Multiple emails between her, the student faculty advisor Mary Edwards, and the Chair of Practical Nursing Deanna Lunn, document a student trying to get support and answers while all the while being told she had to wait. Lovell was finally granted a meeting at the end of September; afterwards she was told she would hear back from them around Thanksgiving. Lovell’s last email forwarded to The Dialog in Janurary was from October 12, in which she writes to Edwards, “I was told to contact you after Thanksgiving if I did not hear

By Karen Nickel Dialog Reporter

The Student Association’s (SA) Academic Advocacy Program (AAP) has written a critical report that shows a disproportionate number of intakes are from Practical Nursing (PN) students. Out of 290 intakes the office documented in the 2011-2012 year, the highest number of complaints, 127, were from the PN program. The second highest intakes were about the Business program at 36, putting intakes by PN students over 350 per cent more than any other program. Issues Academic issues for the most part were a failing final grades, seeing written assignment grades; and accusations of plagiarism. The report states that the “Practical Nursing department was not clear on their definition of it (plagiarism) and gave out conflicting information which led to a lot of confusion for the students and advocates”. Most of these plagiarism accusations occurred in the fall of semester one. The report states that a majority of the students have English as a second language. What is concerning is that there is an English proficiency requirement to be accepted in the college. Students are passing this requirement, but the report states, “these instances have been shown in the Clinical Performance Evaluation tool used to evaluate students’ performance in clinical placements which includes several ‘communica-

from Deana (Chair). I previously emailed her and she told me she would get back to me by October 1st and I have yet to here from her. I was a good student while I attended GBC. Throughout this situation I have been polite and more than patient. All I am asking for is help and it seems like no one cares.” After initially being very open to talking to The Dialog, Lovell stopped answering emails and didn’t respond to phone calls.

“Climate of fear” The AAP’s report documents disturbing behaviour trends in the program. The report mentions a “climate of fear”. That fear was present during a town hall organized by the AAP in January. Students present were reassured that no names or pictures would be taken of those who attended. It was under these conditions that students spoke about their issues. The report states there were “…alleged inci-

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The Academic Advocay report shows Health Sciences totals almost half the intakes

dents of racialized remarks being made by faculty members in classroom and clinical settings, directed at individual students as well as at groups of students of Caribbean, East Asian and South Asian descents amongst others”. The report documents that after a similar report was submitted to the department in February of 2012, “the climate of fear heightened” as “students were verbally informed not to approach the SA”. You would expect that issues as serious as these reported by the AAP would be acted on by the department and the college, but here’s a surprise - it’s no surprise to them. CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

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The Dialog March 22 - April 4, 2013

SA GBC elections: why did you (not) vote?

By Preeteesh Peetabh Singh Dialog Reporter

The question “why are you voting?” was answered by some students after casting their ballots for their favourite candidates in the Student Association (SA) of George Brown College (GBC) elections. The Dialog brings you some insight on why students voted and what their issues are. Cory Martin, a student from Culinary Management’s Nutrition Program said, “I am voting because I believe we should have a right to determine who should be leading our school. The biggest concern I have is ‘knowing things’. I get to know about stuff that happened last week; the week after. Communications is a concern, but other than that I think the school runs smoothly.” Zoe Abbott from Hospitality Operations Management said, “I am voting because one of the representatives (Mohammad Ali Aumeer) came to our class saying that how low the turnout is and how bad it is. My biggest concern in GBC is the library, which is not really big enough and is not patrolled properly—to keep away noise.” Talking about the new $25 student levy she said, “I think there are people who are fortunate enough to afford this education and there are people who aren’t, with the opt out option, I think it is good.” Alya Maung from Human Resource Management said, “I am voting because I want some change in the

school. I am actually voting for my friend Jordan (Sarracini) because I know she does well, she brought me more into student life. My issue at GBC is mostly about campus life, the parties and events that they have, they aren’t that great, they could be better. The café food could be better. I want the SA to find a way to bring the fees down, it is way too high. Some of the fees we pay for the things that we don’t use, like athletics (personally), are pointless.” Victor Cabello, a Business Administration student at GBC said, “I am voting because it is the student union and they represent us. We pay for the services they provide. Promotions of events and stuff are small things, I think what really needs to be done is promoting the SA itself; some of the people don’t even know what the SA is. Frankly, how many people even know about the elections? Also, big things like health insurance and safewalk needs awareness.” Cole Brager, Business Marketing student said, “I am voting because I think that my vote counts. Problems in GBC are very minimal, but the gym could have some more variety and some more machines. It would be great if the SA can promote better health awareness, educate on preventative measures for cancer, asthma, diabetes and other health issues.” Not everyone was voting. According to Evan Murray, chief returning officer for the SA election, the turnup for this year’s election has been

“I am voting because I believe we should have a right to determine who should be leading our school,” said Cory Martin, a student from Culinary Management’s Nutrition Program. Photo: Preeteesh Peetabh Singh / The Dialog

I want the SA to find a way to bring the fees down, it is way too high. Some of the fees we pay for the things that we don’t use, like athletics (personally), are pointless,” said Alya Maung, a Human Resource Management student. Photo: Preeteesh Peetabh Singh / The Dialog

lower than expected. The unofficial count was 1430 voters up from 1090 in 2012, an increase of 31 per cent. Poll clerk Alvina D’souza said, “A lot of students were not aware of the elections and its purpose. There were many students who came to us, asked for information and went away.” “Everyone was not allowed to vote at the same place, it was program specific which created a bit of hassle for the students. We had to direct them to other buildings. A double envelope system could have served them better,” said D’Souza. Andiw Liu, a Culinary Management student at GBC said, “I don’t know if I will be voting. I did not know that the SA election is going on, I don’t know the PHOTO: PREETEESH PEETABH SINGH / THE DIALOG purpose of this election. A lot of my friends, especially internaStudents were busy getting out the vote in the Student Association elections tional students, are not aware of

“I am voting because one of the representatives (Mohammad Ali Aumeer) came to our class saying that how low the turnout is and how bad it is,” said Zoe Abbott from Hospitality Operations Management. Photo: Preeteesh Peetabh Singh / The Dialog

“I am voting because it is the student union and they represent us. We pay for the services they provide,” said Business Administration student Victor Cabello. Photo: Preeteesh Peetabh Singh / The Dialog

“I am voting because I think that my vote counts. Problems in GBC are very minimal, but the gym could have some more variety and some more machines,” said Cole Brager, a Business Marketing student. Photo: Preeteesh Peetabh Singh / The Dialog

this. Is it for the student union? What do they do?” After being told what the SA was and what this election is for, Liu grabbed a copy of The Dialog’s election issue from the polling station and walked away reading candidate profiles. Maybe he came back and voted!

The Dialog March 22 - April 4, 2013

Labour 7

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Homes First workers rally at city hall and win By Karen Nickel Dialog Reporter

“One, two, three, four, no one should be working poor!” chanted 30 members of Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) local 540 who protested in front of city hall on Friday, March 15, calling on city council to step in and force their employer to come to the table. “Five, six, seven, eight, come on Homes First negotiate!” OPSEU 540 is a small union of about 70 people, mostly women, who work to get permanent housing for over 500 low-income people in shelters and homes around Toronto. Their employer, Homes First, refused to negotiate a fair agreement since the old one ended in March 2012. One of the workers’ chief complaints is that Homes First has

turned to temporary agencies to the tune of $60,000 in the last three months. The union questions this since they already have a professional staff available that want and need the work. They are also upset that Homes First has hired a security firm to walk temps into and out of the building and, according to the union, “intimidate” workers. The union filed a bad faith bargaining complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board who scheduled a hearing on February 13. When they came to the table, Homes First refused to stop the practice of using temps, causing negotiations to fail and both sides walked away from the table. The strike began on February 18. Negotiations failed again on March 6 for the third time. At the city hall rally, union member

Rosamund Elwin said, “it is disgusting and shameful that Homes First refuses to negotiate. Contact funders and tell them about the bad management of the 6 million dollars that the city pays to Homes First annually”. Part of their campaign was drawing attention to this funding; their banner read, “Bad Management, You’re paying for it.” The union argues that as a taxpayer-funded organization, Homes First should open up their books for public review; something they refuse to do. Although a small union, they had success in disrupting operations. Elwin stated that they have “stopped mail and package delivery; blocked Second Harvest deliveries; and halted scheduled elevator repairs, put-

ting pressure on management”. One member, George England, was issued a $110 noise pollution ticket at 10 a.m. for blocking management’s parking space and blowing the horn of his van. While one group was at the rally, the negotiating team was with Homes First representatives trying to come up with a deal. Late that night they came to an agreement, signing a three-year contract that gives the union priority for shifts and extra work hours and puts language in place to deal with harassment and discrimination. Maybe Homes First finally heard the chanting from city hall, “Home First staff, we don’t hate. We just want to negotiate!”

could be yours... PHOTO: KAREN NICKEL / THE DIALOG

Homes First strikers rally in front of city hall on March 15

The Student Association of George Brown College produces an annual student handbook/agenda called The Source. The cover of the agenda is designed by students through a contest we run during the winter semester each year.

WHAT:

DESIGN A COVER FOR THE SOURCE

HOW:

COVER SIZE MUST BE

(first prize $800, second prize $300, and third prize $150)

· · · · · ·

width: 5.25 inches height: 8.1875 inches leave 3/8" on left side for spiral binding CMYK 300 dpi 0.125 inches bleed on all sides

PLEASE INCLUDE

WHO: WHEN: WHERE:

Title: Logo:

The Source 2013-2014 Student Association logo only

Art:

CREATIVE & UNIQUE!!!

(available on our website: www.studentassociation.ca)

FULL-TIME STUDENTS ONLY (1 DESIGN PER STUDENT) THURSDAY, APRIL 4 SUBMIT DESIGN TO YOKYERE@GEORGEBROWN.CA

PHOTO: KAREN NICKEL / THE DIALOG

Trade unionists from other unions came out to support the strikers

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

8 Business

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The Dialog March 22 - April 4, 2013

Generals in casino war recruiting at GBC By Preeteesh Peetabh Singh Dialog Reporter

Casino war is considered one of the most easily understood card games, and is perhaps the only game where players can beat the house more than 50 per cent of the time. A war of a different kind is going on around the construction of a brand new mega casino in Toronto. MGM Grand, Caesars Entrainment and Las Vegas Sands are the companies competing against each other to get their feet ahead towards opening a massive casino in Toronto. Randy Morton, president of MGM’s Bellagio; Kevin Laforet, chief executive of Caesars Windsor; and Todd McCarty, human resources chief at Sands visited George Brown college (GBC) on March 12 to speak about the career opportunities in the hospitality sector and casino industry. Morton, who is also an alumni of GBC, said, “The casino has a potential to create about 10,000 jobs. 30 per cent of these jobs will be gaming related whereas non-gaming sector will cover 70 per cent.” MGM and Cadillac-Fairview have partnered with 50 per cent stakes each in their bid for an integrated casino in GTA, with a preference on the exhibition place site. “It’s going to be a very exciting time for Toronto in the near future.” said Morton. McCarty backed Morton’s comment by saying that, “It will not only bring in hospitality jobs, but also create jobs for IT, communications, finance and operations.” All three executives ducked ques-

tions on No Casino Toronto—an anti-casino group of concerned individuals in the city who claim the casino will be detrimental for Torontonians. The No Casino Toronto movement has gained momentum with people from different sections supporting the cause. They believe that the casino would have a devastating impact on local restaurants, bars, hotels and theatres. It would additionally have negative social impacts, including problems like gambling, bankruptcies, crime, traffic gridlock, and

parking problems. No Casino Toronto also claims that the casino companies bidding are either in losses or in debts and their job creation claims are baseless. “There has already been widespread gaming over the years in Ontario and the communities have had some positive experiences, the crime rates does not increase; the gaming addiction, experts will tell you, has stabilized over the last few years,” said the vice president of Canadian Gaming Association, Paul Burns. He defended the Toronto casino plan by

saying that, “Access to gaming today is everywhere, getting on your laptops, getting on the bus to Windsor, or Rama or Niagara or driving to Woodbine. This is not a new product offering, what is new is the way it is being presented.” Talking about parking problems and gridlock, Burns said that city council is the best judge to decide when and where the casino will be located so that these problems may not arise. City council will be voting on the fate of the casino in April.

PHOTO: PREETEESH PEETABH SINGH / THE DIALOG

Left to right: Casino executives Randy Morton, Kevin Laforet and Todd McCarty at GBC on March 12

Framing

the Experience $6,000+ in prizes

A photography contest sponsored by The Change Foundation, Ontario’s independent healthcare think tank.

What does healthcare experience look like to you? Capture the lived realities, emotions, and stories of patients and caregivers in Ontario today. Who? Post-secondary students in photography, digital imaging and journalism – full-time, part-time or continuing ed.

Deadline July 1, 2013. Contest opens April 1. Contest details www.changefoundation.ca/ framingtheexperience Contact asunnak@ changefoundation.com

The Dialog March 22 - April 4, 2013

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Canada taken to tribunal By Karen Nickel Dialog Reporter

There is a case before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (HRT), in which the defendant, in an effort to put a stop to it, has spent over $3 million. The accused has been submitting requests to quash the charges since they were laid in 2007; before you get the impression that Canada is nobly standing up for human rights, I should tell you, the accused is the Government of Canada. In 2007, the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society (FNCFCS) and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) filed a complaint with the Tribunal claiming racial discrimination in the inequitable funding of First Nations child and family services on reserves. This inequitable funding leads to insufficient resources being made available for families in need of support and the complaint states it is a major reason that disproportion-

ate numbers of First Nations children are taken into care when compared with the wider Canadian rate of apprehensions. Cindy Blackstock, a social worker and executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society was instrumental in the complaint being made. Blackstock, a member of the Gitxsan Nation, worked both in First Nations agencies and non-First Nations agencies and saw the inequalities in funding and services First Nations children and families received and she spoke out about it. After bringing this complaint to the HRT; she discovered, (after submitting a Freedom of Information Request), that the conservative government had her under surveillance since the complaint with different agencies being involved in the monitoring. This fact has been added to the human rights complaint. She has completed her tes-

timony before the tribunal, which began on February 25. Canada has no comment about the surveillance and has repeatedly gone before the courts to stop this case from going forward. One claim is that they provide funding, not a service, and therefore are not subject to the human rights complaint process. The courts have denied this appeal, most recently on March 13. Addressing Canada’s potential choices, Blackstock concluded her article for the Children and Youth Review, “the Canadian Government is faced with a choice that will test the moral fabric of the nation. Does it choose to continue to perpetrate racial discrimination against First Nations children or not?” Blackstock ends the article with, “discrimination prospers in darkness and silence and wilts with light and voice”. The tribunal reconvenes in April.

News 9

10 Arts & Sex

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The Dialog March 22 - April 4, 2013

Trey Anthony: Playwright and advocate By Cassandra Thompson Special to The Dialog

We must tell our stories; the way we experience and navigate the daily occurrences that salt and pepper our lives. So often we find our stories being told by those who do not understand the nuances of varied experiences, or shall we say, experiences that do not mimic their own. This was a realization Trey Anthony, the dynamic playwright, producer, director, actor, and motivational speaker had when she began pursuing her acting career. “Baby Mama #1” and “Crackhead #3” were only a couple of the stereotypical, black female roles her agent often found for her to audition for. This left her feeling unfulfilled, and frankly angered, by the way in which an industry and art form she had come to love was telling young

black kids that they could only be visible in the low-income, un-educated, down-trodden roles that mainstream Canada had become used to seeing the community in. There is so much beauty, success, positivity, and inspiration that is generated in the black community and Anthony wanted to share this with Toronto, especially with the black women of Toronto, who were far more multifaceted than had ever been discussed on stage or on screen - it is from her anger from seeing her community members being misrepresented in mainstream media and the urge to have her story, and the stories of all black women told, that ‘Da Kink in My Hair,’ the internationally recognized play and television series, was born. “We have to ask ourselves, who is speaking for who?” said Anthony.

“Often we discredit or silence others when an experience is not our ours; until we resonate with the issue, we won’t care to represent it truthfully.” Now on a truth-telling quest, Anthony is in schools encouraging other youths to tell their stories, bringing an interactive workshop, ‘Da Streets to Da Ear,’ to black youth so that they may share their experiences of having to navigate the predominately Eurocentric spaces in Canada today. Anthony is also currently working on producing her next play, Black Mothers Don’t Say I Love You, which discusses the legacy left by emigration, and the emotional constraints faced when a mother must part from her child to create opportunity for herself in a new land. “It speaks about forgiveness and the process of mothering,” said Anthony. Uniquely discussing learned be-

haviours as a factor in human interactions, no matter how ‘instinctual’ the learned behaviours are expected to be. It will be opening February 2014 at the Living Arts Centre. Anthony encourages us to look to ourselves for satisfaction and has started an initiative with spoken word artist Jemini to show young, black women how to love themselves and live for themselves; something we are not encouraged to do as black women. It is through this initiative that she hopes to continue to encourage all of us to tell our stories and find pride in our lived realties and individual truths. Anthony and Jemini’s self-love movement can be found at www. blackgirlinlove.com, and find her work and production company at www.treyanthonystudios.com.

Ménage à Trois: But I really wanna hit it girl... By Alisha Riley, Courtney Niven & Mary-Grace Falvo Dialog Sex Columnists

Alisha: Consent - the bare minimum for engaging in any sexual activity. However, everyone should aim for enthusiastic consent! Consent can be given verbally or through body language. Unclear? Stop and check in with your partner to ensure you have enthusiastic consent. Ensure consent is not given through coercion, that is not consent; that is rape. As a single woman with multiple sexual partners, giving consent to any sexual activities is first and foremost. And let me be clear, consent is not shoving my head towards your dick! Consent is a process; you must establish consent with each new activity. I also negotiate the use of a condom in my process (or barriers, depending on what sexual activity I am engaged in). Should my partner or myself not have a condom (or barrier) I will retract my consent. Engaging in unprotected sex cannot only put my health at risk but also my uterus at risk of harbouring a fetus.

Courtney: Consent has been a topic that I have recently grappled with. I have come to learn the importance of communication and the power of exercising an assertive, empowered position when it comes to sex. There is nothing sexier than a woman who knows what she wants, when she wants it, and how she wants it. This ideology embodied is rather challenging and not always realistic, but it begins with education. When I became aware of my beautiful body, how each piece works, arouses, and stimulates, I came to understand what I wanted. I became comfortable in my skin and I became empowered. I believe that self-esteem and self worth allows space for a woman to be assertive—to establish boundaries and expectations. It allowed me to say no and mean it—it allowed me to know if I wanted someone to touch me, and if so, where! Consent is soberly saying “yes, I want to engage in sexual activity with you” —not passed out, not drunk or high mumbling “ya”, not scared to say no so remaining silent…consent is a woman cognitively, consciously

choosing that she wants to have sex with someone.

Mary-Grace: So where was consent education during sex-ed when I was in school? Somewhere buried beneath less-than-helpful and frankly victim-blaming messages like, “don’t let anyone take advantage of you” which put the onus on me to speak up with a resounding no opposed to also placing responsibility on partners to ask if what’s going down is okay with me. And let’s be honest; speaking up when you feel uncomfortable is way harder to do than the checking-in part. Add on the over-whelming socialization of girls to be nice and accommodating; Bam—it took me years to tell my hairdresser what I did and didn’t like, let alone being in a sexual encounter. So instead of teaching girls it’s solely their responsibility to stop and prevent sexual activity they do not want, let’s start teaching boys about their responsibility to ask for consent, receive it enthusiastically and continue checking-in before any new activity. I’m using gendered language on purpose because sexual

violence happens overwhelming to girls and women by boys and men. Totally true fact. Our new feminist crush Zerlina Maxwell threw it down brilliantly on The Sean Hannity Show, and followed up with, “Five Ways We Can Teach Men Not to Rape” on Ebony. Number 1;“Teach young men about legal consent”. Holla. Email us your questions and comments at: dialogsex@gmail.com

The Dialog March 22 - April 4, 2013

Sudoku

www.dialog.studentassociation.ca

Puzzles 11

Over a decade of issues NURSING from 5

According to Angela Gallant, the SA’s Health Sciences Academic Advocacy coordinator, and Karla Orantes, the senior coordinator of Academic Advocacy, there have been multiple reports made and submitted regarding serious problems in the PN program. The earliest report obtained by The Dialog was from 2001. It reads like the latest report. In it, the students’ comments read like a laundry list of today’s criticism. “Students have been publicly disciplined, called stupid, and humiliated”. “Students are fearful and horrified.” “Students regularly breakdown and cry.” “Students are fearful of being thrown out of the program for raising concerns or petitioning.” Also included in this report was, “Students unanimously agreed that they had witnessed or experienced serious abuse, humiliation and racism in the class and the placement”. The report recommended cross-cultural education for faculty members. Keep in mind these are all from the 2001 report, which raises the question of why no one has done anything about these issues. Orantes, who has been at the SA since 2008, said that in the past when she brought the reports to the department and administration, “they would just listen and say, ‘those are good points’ but nothing would be done about it”. Speaking about the SA’s structure Orantes said, “board members are responsible for pushing for these changes, but there’s no continuity, there’s no accountability and there’s no interest. It is so frustrating”.

Recently there have been changes in the administration, Gary Kapelus is the new Chair of Academic Excellence and Laura Jo Gunter is now the senior vice president of Academic.

What’s Next? Kapelus has begun a review of the program, stating that he would “provide an objective review” where “students’ experiences and perspective would be actively asked for” and he “would be making recommendations” regarding the program. Gunter said “While it is true that there was a recent departure of one of our senior leaders, there is absolutely no connection with issues raised at the town hall. We made a structural decision several weeks ago to eliminate the position of director in the Centre for Health Sciences”. “We take concerns of our Practical Nursing students very seriously, and we are incorporating all student input as part of the program review we announced at the town hall,” said Gunter. “Students are encouraged to participate in that process to ensure they are heard during this review. Maintaining academic standards and giving students their greatest opportunity for success are the college’s highest priorities”. Edwards responded to an email asking for an interview by asking when the article was to be published, but did not give an interview. Lunn did not respond to inquiries from The Dialog. Inquiries to the faculty’s union president Tom Tomassi for comment were referred back to Gunter.

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