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Canada needs to review possibility of Tariff reductions
Canada needs to review its policies on tariffs and import taxes according to a report done by a committee of Canadian senators.
The report’s main focus was why Canadians pay more for the same product than Americans said the CBC.
The report listed transportation costs, a small Canadian market and tariffs as the main reasons for the price discrepancies.
According to the report, tariff reductions could help lower Canadian prices.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced at a recent press conference that he would like to eliminate tariffs going forward.
Flickr Photo by: Ontario Chamber of Commerce
STORY WRITTEN BY: CHLOE DENEUMOUSTIER
Cegep professors threaten to boycott summit on higher education
CEGEP professors are threatening to boycott the Quebec government’s higher education summit.
The fédération nationale des enseignantes et des enseignants du Québec announced that it’s fighting with government over $31 million dollars in unpaid wages.
According to the Montreal Gazette, 180 extra professors were hired in August and September of last year to teach make-up classes after the student strike.
Union president Caroline Senneville said the government initially promised to foot the entire bill.
Now Quebec’s higher education department is only offering to pay $15 million dollars – just under half the total costs.
CEGEP professors aren’t the only group thinking of boycotting the summit.
Representatives from the Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante said that the student group may not attend unless the government is willing to seriously discuss free tuition.
The summit is scheduled for the end of February.
Flickr Photo by: VilledeVicto
STORY WRITTEN BY: ALYSSA TREMBLAY
CJLO Photo Diary << Igloofest << January 17-19
Photos and text by AutoBeat DJ MNJIVR
The 2013 edition of Igloofest kicked off in grand style at the Jacques-Cartier Pier in the Old-Port on January 17th. After last year's hugely successful and record-breaking edition, Igloofest once again boasts an impressive line-up of the biggest names in the local and international scenes. Throw on your one-piece snowsuits, break out those tuques, and shake off the winter blues because an extra weekend has been added to the festival! But first, here's a rundown of weekend one.
Igloofest, Vieux-Port de Montréal
January 17th: OPENING NIGHT!
Up and coming Montreal DJ Richie G kicked off the fest on Thursday with a two-hour set that made festival-goers quickly forget the frigid temperatures. Laced with tech and deep house tracks, Richie G showed festival goers why DMC World Magazine named him "Montreal's Boy Wonder".
Richie G
I've had the chance to cover Igloofest numerous times, and its summer counterpart, Piknic Électronik, but this was the first time I had heard such a varied musical selection by Wolf + Lamb. The duo, also head of the eponymous record label, opened with a track from Nicolas Jaar.
Wolf + Lamb
But the first night belonged to our very own Misstress Barbara. This Montreal native topped off a superb night with a high-energy set. Never letting go of the throttle, her set made a sea of fans dance and completely forget the cold -25 degree Celsius temperature. Best way to end the night!
Misstress Barbara
January 18th: MORE COLD AND SNOW AND MORE GREAT MUSIC
Fur Trade Recordings, my favourite Montreal record label, took over the Virgin Mobile Igloo Friday night. The crew, composed of Cristobal Urbina, Mindbend (a.k.a Nico Sé) and Romeo Kardec, had the igloo dancing the night away with their distinctive blend of house, disco and techno. The guys showed us why the we should keep an eye out for them.
Fur Trade
Outside on the main stage, Stephen Beaupré got the party going with some techno and house blends, and the much-anticipated performance by Kink had people packing the floor in front of the stage. After a remarkable performance at Mutek earlier this year, he brought his drum pads and synth to Igloofest for another awesome performance.
Igloofest, Vieux-Port de Montréal
Friday night goes to the electrifying performance by Mathias Kaden. The German producer came prepared to drop a massive set, and he knew quite well what would get the crowd into full-party mode.
Mathias Kaden
January 19th: BEAT MAKERS
On a snowy Saturday night, a pair of veterans laid waste to the Igloofest dance floor in an igloo filled with Montreal's leading beat makers that made everyone forget the weather. In fact, the Old-Port resembled a funky winter wonderland with the lights, party people, and great music.
DJ Sneak
First up was Montreal DJ Paolo Rocco, followed by Toronto's own DJ Sneak, who started off his set the proper way with a classic house track that kept people dancing for two straight hours. Josh Wink, a festival favourite, closed out the night in his own way with a full two-hour set that continued way past the Old Port's midnight curfew. The "Higher State of Consciousness" DJ brought his usual style of techno-house with a lot of bass added to his track selection.
Josh Wink
The Artbeat Showcase in the Virgin Mobile Igloo introduced the general public to great homegrown beat makers that have been rocking the small venues, the internet, and blogs of late. Starting with local veteran Scott C. from the monthly night and radio show "The Goods". Also in the igloo was High Classified, a talented young Laval producer who kept the party going with his bass-heavy tracks that made the place jump several times. Be sure to check him out in the near future, the kid's got talent for sure.
High Classified
Artbeat belonged to veteran beat-maker KenLo Craqnuques. This Québec City native has a distinctive and unmistakable sound and vibe that mixes classic hip-hop sampling, his own beats, and some traditional Quebec folk with a healthy dose of humor. KenLo Craqnuques made the "La gang de Buddé" inside the igloo bounce the night away.
KenLo Craqnuques
And thus concludes Igloofest's inaugural weekend! So many great artists have performed so far, I'm ready to bet that there will be equal or even greater talent to come. With all the dancing going on in the igloos, I wonder if anyone will be left standing in the Old Port!
CSU councillor resigns over violation of student union policy
CSU councillor Ramy Khoriaty has resigned from his position due to a conflict of interest.
According to the Link, Khoriaty temporarily worked for the CSU directing Orientation Week while remaining on the council.
A CSU standing regulation disqualifies a person from holding or taking office if they become a Student Union employee after taking office.
Engineering and computer science representative, Khoriaty claims he did not know that he was violating CSU policy.
Currently there is no standard procedure in the hiring process at the CSU.
The CSU judicial board recommended the committee that hired Khoriaty to review CSU bylaws to make sure this never happens again.
February 6th, 2013
Hosted by: Sarah Deshaies
Stories by: Aisha Samu, Niki Mohrdar, Carlo Spiridigliozzi
Produced by: Spoon Jung
Fracking worries Environmental watchdog
Canada's Environmental watchdog has expressed concern over fracking in a report tabled in the House of Comons on Tuesday.
According to CBC News, Environmental Commissioner Scott Vaughan tabled the report in his final act as auditor of Canadian environmental regulations.
Vaughan's report details how environmental protection may not be keeping up resource development. He points to the field of offshore oil and gas with two boards in Atlantic Canada who are not prepared for a potential spill.
The federal government told Vaughan that fracking is an emerging issue and is looking into it in depth.
Ottawa is expected to finish its review on fracking by March 2014.
Same-sex marriage vote passes in two U.K. countries
Tuesday was a landmark day for same-sex couples in England and Wales.
According to the BBC, the House of Commons voted in favour of the Same-Sex Couples Marriage Bill by a 400-175 majority.
The ended a long day of debates on whether or not same-sex marriage should be legal in these two U.K. nations.
While most MPs were in favour of the Biull, there were some who opposed it. 136 Conservatives opposed the Bill. The groups includes two cabinet ministers, eight junior ministers and eight whips.
Prime Minister David Cameron, called the passing of the Bill into law, "an important step forward that strenghens society".
Flickr Photo by: Neville10
Montreal's gas prices increase for no reason
By: futureatlas.com
Gas prices have reach 1.46 cents in Montreal this Tuesday, as the city increases the cost of gas by more than 10 cents per litre overnight.
However this comes as no surprise to Montrealers who are used to countless unnecessary price hikes in 2012. According to CAA Quebec, these unjustified increases are more likely to occur before holiday weekends.
CAA has also deemed eight out of the 12 gas price hikes in 2012 to be unwarranted.
Sophie Gagnon, CAA-Quebec’s vice president for public and government relations has stated that the industry makes sure to get the maximum profit by taking advantage of times when they know motorists will be on the road.
Currently Montreal-area drivers deal with the most pre-weekend price hiking when compared to Québec City and Sherbrooke.
Montreal also pays the highest gas taxes among Canada’s largest cities with an average of 36 per cent in tax on top of the average price for a litre of gasoline. This is 5 per cent higher than the overall Canadian average, currently resting at 31 per cent.
February 5th, 2013
Hosted by: Gabrielle Fahmy
Stories by: Danny Aubry, Jenna Monney-Lupert, Carlo Spiridigliozzi & Nikita Smith
Produced by: Carlo Spiridigliozzi
Lack of engineers in Britain has negative effect on economy
According to the New York Times, the lack of engineers in Britain is negatively affecting the country’s economy.
A recent article states that Britain’s straining manufacturing sector isn’t an attractive prospect for students in university who see careers in finance as more lucrative and prominent.
Experts say that the country needs a strong labour force right now, to try and offset the current recession it’s in.
Engineers in Britain point out the lack of support from the government, compared to countries like Germany where engineering is seen as highly prominent and many apprenticeship programs are offered, as a major factor for the decline.
Analysts state that another problem facing the industry is its image. The stereotype that it is a dirty profession, reserved for working-class, low-status citizens is held by a lot of parents that want their children to strive for a more prestigious career.
According to the Royal Academy of Engineering, more than a quarter of graduates from engineering pick jobs outside the fields of science, technology, or engineering.
STORY WRITTEN BY: NIKITA SMITH
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