Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC

"It's a long time coming, but we are glad to see this policy change is finally going to happen," said Cindy Oliver, President of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators. Ms. Oliver was reacting to news out of Victoria that the provincial government would eliminate tuition fees for Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs delivered in BC public post-secondary institutions.

"We have been lobbying for this change for close to four years and it's great to see those efforts are finally paying off," said Oliver.

"We can't keep ignoring the basic fact: a majority of British Columbians think post-secondary education tuition fees are too high," said Cindy Oliver, President of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators (FPSE). Along with representatives from the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), Ms. Oliver was releasing the results of a FPSE poll on post-secondary education issues conducted by Ipsos Reid.

"According to this poll about 55 percent of British Columbians think that post-secondary tuition fees are too high.

Just over a year ago the provincial government launched a review of BC's public post-secondary education system. It was called Campus 2020 and it was led by Geoff Plant, the former BC Liberal Cabinet Minister from 2001 to 2005.

Just over a year ago the provincial government launched a review of BC's public post-secondary education system. It was called Campus 2020 and it was led by Geoff Plant, the former BC Liberal Cabinet Minister from 2001 to 2005.

After five years of legal wrangling, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled on one of the most outrageous legislative measures that the BC Liberals ever enacted; their contract ripping labour legislation passed in January 2002.

The President of Nicola Valley Institute of Technology Employees' Association, Sharon McIvor, has won an important legal victory in the BC Supreme Court. On June 11, 2007 the court released its decision on an application first made by Ms. McIvor in July 1990.

In its decision, the B.C. Supreme Court wiped out one of the most contentious aspects of the federal Indian Act, striking down part of Ottawa's definition of a status Indian and opening the door to hundreds of thousands of new applications for native services.

A recent news report that Langara College has dismissed its Manager of Administrative Services in the Continuing Studies Department after an alleged fraud scheme was discovered by college accounting and finance staff raises more concerns about the practice of contracting out instructor services.

Geoff Plant's report, Access and Excellence: The Campus 2020 Plan for British Columbia's Post-Secondary Education System, marks an important admission that the BC Liberals' last six years of policy and funding choices have not worked.

For example, I'm glad that Mr. Plant finally agrees with us that Adult Basic Education should be tuition-free across the province. We've have told the government repeatedly that forcing ABE students to pay for their programs is just plain punitive. I read Mr.

On March 26, 2007, the BC Liberals tabled Bill 20, the School (Student Achievement Enabling) Amendment Act. In her introduction of the legislation, Education Minster Shirley Bond emphasized that the proposed amendments would ensure greater "accountability" within the K-12 education system and "improve quality and choice" for students.

On March 26, 2007, the BC Liberals tabled Bill 20, the School (Student Achievement Enabling) Amendment Act.

On the eve of his 2007 federal budget, federal Finance Minster Jim Flaherty followed the tradition of buying new shoes. However, in Mr. Flaherty's case, the shoes were hockey skates. After reading the details of his March 19th budget, you can see why he opted for skates. His fiscal plan weaves all over the ice, but he never seems to put the puck on net.

On the eve of his 2007 federal budget, federal Finance Minster Jim Flaherty followed the tradition of buying new shoes. However, in Mr. Flaherty's case, the shoes were hockey skates.

 

As we go marching, marching
We bring the greater days
For the rising of the women
Means the rising of the race
No more the drudge and idler
Ten that toil where one reposes
But the sharing of life's glories
Bread and roses, bread and roses

Bread and Roses
Lyrics, James Oppenheim, Music, Martha Colman