RSS
School boards speak out over proposed cuts to education sector
On Thursday the English School Boards Association spoke out against recent cuts to the province’s education budget.
According to the CBC, over the last five years five hundred million dollars has been cut from French and English school board budgets.
The PQ’s education minister suggested school boards make up the difference by raising taxes or cutting administrative costs.
But president of the English School Boards Association David D’Aoust says school boards are already taxing as much as they’re allowed to at thirty-five cents per one hundred dollar property evaluation.
A referendum would have to be called in order to raise that maximum amount.
D’Aoust says school boards will be forced to make the cuts to student services and building maintenance.
STORY WRITTEN BY: ALYSSA TREMBLAY
February 14, 2013
Hosted By: Catlin Spencer
Stories by: Aisha Samu, Saturn De Los Angeles & Chloe Deneumoustier
Produced by: Jenna Monney-Lupert
P-Q puts back research funding
The provincial government has brought back funding for environmental protection and health research.
But they're in hot water for slashing them off the annual budget in the first place.
CBC News is reporting that Higher Education Minister Pierre Duchesne reinstated $26.5 million dollars to research funding. That amount is good for one year.
However, the Liberals are not happy with the government's fickle move of taking out money and putting back in the coffers. Interim leader Jean-Marc Fournier says the P-Q has no vision on governing and does not think about the consequences.
Quebec Premier Pauline Marois defended herself by blaming the Liberals. They left a budget shortfall of more than $1.5 billion dollars.
That forced the provincial government to slash research funding in the first place. 63-million dollars was cut.
Researchers say the funding cuts could potentially force laboratories to close and research projects to go on hiatus.
Coalition Avenir Québec leader François Legault says that the funding should be brought back permanently. He thinks research is profitable for Quebec's economy.
Health Scientist Dr. Serge Rivest is a health scientist at the Quebec University Hospital Centre.
He welcomes the decision to bring back the funding.
He says the reinstatement is very good news for Quebec's hospital patients and the population in general.
STORY WRITTEN BY: SATURN DE LOS ANGELES
EU-US Trade deal reached
The United States and The European Union have agreed to launch talks on a free trade pact.
According to Aljezeera, negotiations could begin as early as June of this year.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barrosospoke at press conference yesterday.
He announced the release of a joint US-EU report recommending the trade deal.
Barroso said
the deal would set a standard for “the development of global trade rules.”
These two economies make up half the world’s economic output.
Flickr Photo by: EPP Group in the European Parliament (Officail)
STORY WRITTEN BY: CHLOE DENEUMOUSTIER
Fears of job cuts at McGill University
There is growing concern over the financial situation at McGill University raising speculation of potential job cuts, reports the Montreal Gazette.
McGill provost Anthony Masi warned union leaders in a meeting Wednesday that nothing was safe, including jobs.
At risk are people without job security.
Masi stated that the $124 million cut to universities in December following the cancelled tuition increases were a huge blow.
The government recently announced that universities must make at least 50 per cent of their imposed cuts in this fiscal year.
Failing to meet this would mean losing the last of this year’s installment.
McGill could lose a further $32 million if they fail to meet the government’s demands.
Many are worried about how the potential job cuts will affect students and learning.
Flickr Photo by: James D. Schwartz
STORY WRITTEN BY: AISHA SAMU
Montreal roadwork raising questions
Frequent roadwork on certain Montreal streets have raised questions on the necessity and quality of the work and the contracts handed out for it.
A Montreal Gazette investigation found that the city gave contracts for work on Notre Dame Street East three times in eight years.
Estimated values of the work on Notre Dame East and Cote Des Neiges Road were released by the city before bidding began.
Details about the work were hidden from the council and the public.
The removal and pavement of asphalt on the high traffic roads occurred inside of one to six years.
Other major Canadian cities estimate that their roadwork on high traffic roads lasts between fifteen to twenty years.
Testimony at the Charbonneau Commission revealed that collusion existed among construction companies bidding for contracts.
The extensive findings detail who the city manager and executive committee awarded contracts to, the length of road worked, and contract values.
The city told the Gazette that it is looking into their findings.
Flickr Photo by: chrisjtse
STORY WRITTEN BY: AISHA SAMU
February 13th, 2013
Hosted by: Sarah Deshaies
Stories by: Jamie Lee-Gordon, Aisha Samu, Niki Mohrdar, & Sarah Deshaies
Produced by: Spoon Jung
China top economic country in the world
China is now the economic top dog on the planet.
According to the Gaurdian, China’s customs administration released figures stating the country’s imports and exports reached three point eight seven trillion dollars.
The US came at three point eight two according to the American commerce department.
The figures show Beijing’s dependence on foreign markets.
The US market remains twice the size and more self contained.
The Americans also dominate trade in services.
STORY WRITTEN BY: DANIEL J. ROWE
Private daycares go on strike
300 private and non-subsidized daycares in Quebec went on strike on Tuesday in order to protest the how the government is distributing the 28,000 new daycare spaces.
The Coalition for Private Non-subsidized Daycares is asking for the government to change the 10,000 empty spots available into subsidized spots, in order to save millions that would go towards constructing new spots in publicly run daycares.
Jennifer Park, a spokeswoman for the Coalition believes that more money should be spent on established daycares, as opposed to changing the already private daycares.
Parks has stated that by doing so, the government would be saving 260 million dollars.
Parti Québécois has also planned to bring the provincial total of daycares to 250, 000 in the next three years. The already 13,000 spaces set aside by the former Charest government will be allotted, as well as an additional 15, 000 new spaces.
Bruno-Pierre Cyr, a spokesman for Quebec’s family minister, has said that parents have expressed that they want the government to spend more on public daycare spaces as opposed to private centres.
However, some parents are in support of the strike, stating that public daycares take too long to get into.
While many parents support the strike, countless had to stay home today to look after their children who would otherwise be at daycare.
The protest, which occurred on Tuesday, took place at noon outside of the National Assembly in Quebec City as well as outside the premier’s office in downtown Montreal.
CJLO Photo Diary << Igloofest 2013 << February 31-02
Photos and text by AutoBeat DJ MNJIVR
The second weekend of Igloofest 2013 began in Arctic-like weather! Indeed, with temperatures on Thursday hovering around the -30 degrees Celsius mark, one might think that people would stay indoors. Wrong! The frigid temperature didn't stop festival goers, and the stellar lineup could even get a hibernating bear out of its cave for the party.
Igloofest 2013: Equipment
Its ladies Night and the Feeling's Right... at -30 Celsius?!
Opening night featured a trio of the best females DJs rocking the decks! First up was Alicia Hush, DJ/producer and head of Hushlamb records. She got the weekend going with her tech-house grooves. Up next was Miss Kittin, who by her Facebook post clearly enjoyed her Igloofest experience, and Ellen Allien head of BPitch records.
Igloofest 2013: Games
On Friday, a house gangster started off the night! Pierre De Lux opened with an excellent selection of the different variations of house music. It's been a good year for Pierre, first with Piknic Électronik and now opening at Igloofest.
Igloofest 2013: Pierre De Lux
Up next was the superb Nina Kraviz, a Serbian DJ who played a techno-heavy set and seemed quite at accustomed to the freezing weather. The performance was solid, but at some points monotonous, yet she still managed to get the people dancing and ready for the next round of DJs.
Igloofest 2013: Nina Kraviz
As I've seen on more than a few occasions, a set that starts off strong only gets stronger. This was the case for Pan-Pot's set. The crowd started dancing within seconds and continued straight through the night. They have the right recipe for a cold night, and did not stick within the confines of the usual techno and house. The duo branched out to other styles that made the dance floor move in unison, forgetting the current temperature!
Igloofest 2013: Pan-Pot
TNGHT is the Night!
Probably the most anticipated night of Igloofest (and the warmest of that weekend) was Saturday, February 2nd. The line-up itself spoke volumes about the kind of night it was going be: a memorable one!
Montreal DJ Tronald Trump started it off nicely, getting the assembling crowd ready.
Igloofest 2013: Stage
Up-and-coming beat producer, Kaytranada took it to the next level with his hip hop infused beats. Alongside other local producers like Vlooper, High Classified, and KenLo Craqnuques, Kaytranada has been at the forefront of the "Piu Piu" movement.* It's been a very interesting year for the young producer, with a critically acclaimed first album, invitations to perform with many international acts, and now Igloofest. He did not disappoint with a solid performance that got everyone pumped and ready for the next musical onslaught!
Igloofest 2013: Crowd
TNGHT, a duo composed of über wonder producers Montréal's Lunice and the Scottish Hudson Mohawke, have been setting dance floors ablaze with their self-titled debut EP. Although missing the Scottish half due to illness, Lunice came prepared to flatten most of the Jacques-Cartier Pier by slowly building the mood during the first few minutes with a couple of atmospheric tracks before literally kicking it into overdrive. For once, I was glad that I wasn't in the middle of the crowd, which at that point turned into a sea of bodies dancing and jumping in unison. It was a sight to behold!
Igloofest 2013: TNGHT
After TNGHT came the power-packed set by German duo Schlachthofbronx. Their fast-paced beats and rhythmic tempos kept the sea of people in front of them dancing to the very end of the night! No dance-worthy style of music was left untouched by the duo, everything from techno and house to dancehall/cumbias and hip hop. One could almost say that the proverbial kitchen sink was thrown, it only had adds to one amazing night at Igloofest.
Igloofest 2013: Schlachthofbronx
* For those who might be wondering about the "Piu Piu" movement, it's a new wave of Montreal producers experimenting with and bridging the gap between hip hop sampling and electronic bass music. They create highly intricate rhythms with heavy bass lines and half time beats as opposed to the traditional 4/4 time.
Igloofest 2013: Paskal Daze
Igloofest 2013: Ice Castle
Igloofest 2013: Visual Effects
Pages
Staff Login | Advertise | Our Location | RSS | Contact Us
