The Queen's Journal, Volume 151, Issue 20

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the journal Queen’s University

Increased JDUC costs might be unsustainable for student society Cassidy McMackon Editor in Chief Four days ahead of the AMS referendum, the AMS still won’t disclose the impact of increased costs in the new JDUC building. The AMS admitted it won’t be able to afford all the space currently allocated to the society and said “difficult decisions” will have to be made to determine how to use the new JDUC. When asked how operations at the AMS will continue in the event some offices or services are moved out of the building, the AMS said it has achieved its IT goal of moving all major operating systems into the cloud so the organization can work remotely should these

Vol. 151, Issue 20

Aimée Look Business, Science, & Technlology Editor Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he isn’t looking to increase tuition for post-secondary students on Jan. 31 at a press conference. “I don’t believe this is time to go into these student’s pockets, especially the ones that are really struggling, and ask for a tuition increase,” the Premier said. Ontario slashed tuition by 10 per cent in 2019 and has kept fees frozen since. Ford said he plans to work with universities to support them, but called class sizes as small as six or seven students unacceptable. Many universities in the province, including Queen’s, have attributed their financial woes to Ford’s tuition cuts. The tuition freeze has cost Queen’s $180 million, according to its FAQ page. The Blue-Ribbon Panel of postsecondary experts appointed by the government, recommended in March 2023 that Ontario lift the cap on tuition. The panel labeled the tuition freeze a significant threat to the sector, and Queen’s University agreed. Queen’s says the provincial tuition cut and decreased international enrolment have both contributed to a $48 million queensjournal.ca

F r i day , F e b r ua ry 2 , 2 0 2 3

AMS could move to remote workplace if SLC fee fails at winter referendum circumstances arise. In the fourth installment of The Journal’s JDUC series, The Journal asked the AMS about the full cost breakdown and space allocations in the new JDUC building for the undergraduate student society—especially since the Student Life Centre (SLC) fee is seeing a $5.96 increase meant to cover increased costs for the project. Despite reaching out for both

Ford unwilling to lift tuition freeze as Ontario universities feel budget strain

Not the time to go into students’ pockets, Ford says

operating deficit. The Canadian government announced plans last week to cap international student permit approvals to around 360,000, down 35 per cent from the number of approvals in 2023. Post-secondary institutions in Ontario are highly reliant on international student tuition for student fee revenue because of the 2019 provincial tuition reeze, according to a report rom Ontario’s Auditor General in 2022. “[It’s a] fairly dramatic decision on the part of the Government, which will have far-reaching ramifications,” Patrick Deane said at Queen’s University Senate meeting on Thursday, addressing the cap on international students. “The worst possible scenario would be that caps put in place would prevent our program numbers,” he added.

PHOTO OBTAINED VIA FOI

interviews and comment, the AMS still won’t paint a full picture of what’s going on.

Increased costs since demolition AMS services and offices once housed in the JDUC temporarily moved into smaller spaces in the Queen’s Centre, La Salle, and Rideau Hall while their new home is under construction in 2022. Under a Freedom of Information request, The Journal learned the cost per square metre for both AMS spaces in La Salle and Rideau Halls is $181.24, amounting to a total cost of $289,059 each year as per an agreement signed between the University and the AMS. The agreement is meant to be a short-term solution while the JDUC is under construction and has been in operation since May 2022. The agreement is set to expire in May 2024. According to The Journal’s calculations based on records obtained under a Freedom of Request, the cost per square foot for some AMS services has increased, despite these services being housed in units that are significantly smaller than their previous JDUC location. Once housed in a 539.7 square-metre unit in the JDUC, the Tricolour Outlet now occupies a garage in Rideau Hall that is five times smaller. Despite its tenancy in a smaller space, the cost per square foot for the AMS retailer has increased by $21.78 since moving. According to the AMS, the full cost breakdown per square metre for the new JDUC has yet to be determined, given that these figures are still under negotiation with the University. Despite this, the AMS confirmed operating costs for the society’s share of the building have increased by approximately 70 per cent from the old JDUC building. The operating costs are

covered through a combination of AMS services’ operating budget and through the SLC student activity fee. Though The Journal inquired twice about the difference in operating costs from the old JDUC to La Salle and Rideau Halls, the AMS declined to provide a cost breakdown per square metre.

Reclaiming student spaces The SLC fee was ratified at AMS Assembly last month. In seeking the SLC fee increase, AMS President Kate McCuaig said the $5.96 number was agreed upon by the AMS and the University, though the University initially argued to have the fee increased further to foot the bill for operating costs. “The SLC fee is critical and necessary funding to operate both the JDUC and non-athletic portion of the Queen’s Centre so that Queen’s students have places to meet, socialize, and study outside of their academic classrooms,” said Mikayla Crawford, AMS communications director, in a statement to The Journal. Because the AMS is a non-profit corporation and doesn’t generate profits, the SLC fee increase is necessary to pay the costs to operate spaces housing AMS ratified clubs, AMS offices, and services. “We’re asking students to vote yes for the increase we believe is necessary and fair and reflects the good faith agreements that have existed over the past decade between the AMS, SGPS and the University and the partnership students have entered into in 2019 with the University to embark on a revitalized JDUC that will be a stunning ‘show piece’ at the centre of Queen’s campus that all of the Queen’s community can be proud of for decades to come,” the statement said. The JDUC project is funded through a $62.3 million contribution from undergraduate students, and a $9.152 million contribution from graduate students. Based on figures from enrolment data in the five years since the JDUC redevelopment fee has been in effect, undergraduate students have paid $6 million of the undergraduate contribution. To meet the $62.3 million undergraduate contribution, it will take 37 years of undergraduates paying the JDUC fee for the building to be paid off.

Situated on the

traditional lands of

the Anishinaabe and

Haudenosaunee peoples.

Since 1873

EDITORIALS — PAGE 7

World junior player Dubé chooses the cowardly way out BUSINESS — PAGE 8

The businesspeople behind last week’s Banana Bar Crawl SPORTS — PAGE 9

Former football coach Halligan newest addition to Kingston Sports Hall of Fame LIFESTYLE — PAGE 11

Better late than never: Kingston’s young and growing EDM scene

University ‘concerned’ about cap on international students Restrictions impact Queen’s budgetary relief strategy Sofia Tosello Assistant News Editor An immediate cap on international student visas has been imposed by the Federal Government. Marc Miller, minister of immigration, refugee, and citizenship, announced on Jan. 22 there will be no further growth in the number of international students in Canada over the next two years. This announcement comes as the Government is looking to address burdens on health care and housing services nationwide. Provost Matthew Evans stressed the importance of increasing international student enrollment to alleviate the University’s $48 million deficit. The University aims to return to pre-COVID-19 levels of international student enrollment. International student intake in Ontario will be slashed by as much as 50 per cent according to a report from The Globe and Mail. “Queen’s greatly values our international students and the announcement of a two-year cap on international student enrollment is concerning,” the University said in a statement to The Journal. The University recruited 668 undergraduate international students in 2019-20, prior to the pandemic. In 2022-23, that number plummeted to 414, and in 2023-24, it dropped to 387 students. The University is acquiring further details following federal government’s announcement. Have an anonymous tip? Get in touch with our editors.

Premier Doug Ford (right ) at the Legion Royal Branch 560 in 2018.

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