So I just received an e-mail from UBC asking me to fill out a survey on tuition. There are three questions and they read as follows:

To what extent will the proposed 2% tuition increase ($88.59 on a base Arts/Science tuition) be an impediment to you continuing your studies at UBC?
Your tuition currently pays for 28%-30% of the operating costs of your UBC education. A government grant and investment income pays the balance. Choose one of the following to rate this 28%-30%:
What is the most important thing for UBC to invest …

So where do we stand after Wednesday’s council meeting. Lets first look at what we have learned and move on to what what will happen in the coming days. I’m feeling very much like Alice today and so this post is influenced by Carrol’s fantasy world, one of my favourite books.
Where we stand
Now, I give you fair warning, either you or your head must be off, and that in about half no time! Take your choice! – The Queen from Lewis Carrol’s Alice in Wonderland
I believe that there is little …

Well it sure has been a crazy 48 hours. That’s the biggest reason that I haven’t written one of these already. I wanted to take some time to let things filter out and crystallize a bit. Haste makes waste they say. That and throughout the whole process all I found myself wanting nothing more than a drink. Not the best mindset to be in when you have to weigh in on an issue such as this. But I believe I’m ready now to say what I think needs to be …

With all the debate going on in the US about ‘Obamacare’ and health reform it is hard for Americans to not make comparisons to other systems. The Canadian system has been used as an example by both the GOP and the Dems as an example of what we shouldn’t or should do. Naturally, as a Canadian I am willing to blindly defend our health-care are being the best in the world; after all, that’s what our politicians have been telling us for eons, right?
Today, the Conference Board of Canada released …

A proposal went though recently to put a hospice on campus. This seems like a great way for UBC to make some extra coin on some of the campuses unused land. Problem though – one of the proposed sites for the hospice is behind St. John’s College – right next to first year residence Place Vanier (check out the proposed site here and the rest of them here). Obviously, PPPAC (the group with the responsibility to vet many of the incoming proposals) don’t have their heads screwed on straight.
Putting an …

The chess game that is the Federal Election is off to an interesting start.

Whether you love him or hate him, Stephen Harper is one of the best political tacticians this country has ever seen. One day after Ignatieff’s decision to cease support for the minority government, Harper has put the Liberal leader in a tough spot. According to Bob Rae the Liberals will put forward a non confidence motion as early as possible. This wouldn’t be until October 1st.
However, the Conservatives have a plan (they always do). You may have …

Yesterday, Michael Ignatieff stood in front his caucus and declared that Liberal support for the reigning Conservative government has come to an end; it was time to ‘take the government off life support’.
You’ve failed to protect the most vulnerable. You’ve failed to create jobs. Failed to defend our healthcare. Failed to restore our finances.
If, as Bob Rae predicts, the Liberals put forward a non confidence motion at the earliest possible date (October 1st) the country could be in for an election before Christmas. If Iggy is successful, we could see …

If your like me then you’re always trying to keep your finger on the political pulse. However, you probably aren’t one of those people (I live in a lonely, little world) so I’m here to tell you about one of the most absurd stories that I’ve ever heard of in politics: birthers.
Who are the birthers? They are a group of individuals who deny that Obama was born in the US and as such, cannot be President. Their claim basically runs like this: Obama was born in Kenya, but within 6 …

Check this site out that I got forwarded recently through a couple of political contacts.
Republicans For Ignatieff
So my first response to this site is absolute shock. Confused profanities were slurred as I delved deeper into the site. Who put this up? What’s their angle? Are there really Bush supporters in the US who want want to throw their hats (and souls) in with Iggy’s camp.

Mohamed  Elmasry is a well respected professor of Electrical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. He has written commentary for the Globe and Mail and published more than 500 research papers and 16 books in the field of electrical engineering. Obviously, Dr. Elmasry is a well established academic.
Elmasry is the complainant behind three lawsuits raised last year against Maclean’s on grounds of freedom of speech human rights. During this time, he was President of the Canadian Islamic Congress: the ‘independent voice of Canadian Muslims’ (off their website). Does Elmasry speak …