The Best Canadian Universities for Work and Parties
Maclean’s Magazine has published a ranking of the top 20 universities in Canada for work ethic and party life. In a survey of over 15,000 students, it was found that students spend 3 hours partying and 14 hours studying on average throughout the country.
With a calculation of the average hours studying and partying, then the total hours per week (either working or partying) divided by respondent numbers was calculated, this was the basis for the metric for the rankings (More details in the article). The ranking lists the “best work-party balance” universities in Canada.
Each university, for inclusion in the ranking, required at least 100 responses per school. Queen’s University students, for an example, spent 20 hours studying and 5 hours partying. “No other school came close to achieving that level of balance in their studies and partying,” Maclean’s said.
Critical Thinking and STEM Education Critical to Keep Canada Competitive
“Canada’s economic future depends on having as many workers as possible who can think critically, make decisions and solve problems. It’s how our economy ? and our country ? will remain competitive, whatever the rest of the world throws at us,” The Globe and Mail said.
The article calls for the encouragement of Canadian youth to enter STEM professions because the degree in the STEM subjects ? science, technology, engineering, and mathematics ? opens opportunities to jobs, including programming, engineering, environmental science, and medicine.
Many of the top jobs require the STEM education. In a 2015 report from the Expert Panel on STEM Skills for the Future, David Dodge, who is the former Bank of Canada governor that chaired the panel, stated that these are the skills to know in the uncertain labour market.
Education in Electric Vehicles Available in Ontario now ? and for Free
CBC News said, “A centre where people can learn about electric vehicles and take them for a test drive has opened in Toronto. Ontario’s Environment Minister Glen Murray says the Plug?n Drive Electric Vehicle Discovery Centre is considered the first of its kind and his government has pitched in $1 million to support it.”
Murray noted the aim of the centre is to educate citizens on the need to switch to electric vehicles. Why? The reason is climate change, and the impact of vehicles on it. The centre visitors will learn about the subsidies and rebates for owners of electric cars.
Based on the Climate Change Action Plan of the Ontario government, the province “hopes” that 5% of all new sold vehicles will be electric by 2020. Discovery centre visitors will be able to test-drive vehicles. The centre is free for the visitors to it.
Bill C-33 Discussed by Grand Chief Derek Nepinak of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs
The Times Colonist has stated that the Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Derek Nepinak, was discussing Bill C-33, entitled the “First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act,” and its (the bill’s) ongoing rejection back in 2014.
For Canada 150, Nepinak plans to walk 120 kilometres in commemoration of the resilience of First Nations people in the face of Confederation and its fallout for First Nations peoples. It is called the Walk to Remember.
“We don’t have a lot to celebrate when it comes to 150 years of assimilation and genocide and marginalization,” Nepinak said, “We have more to reflect upon the resilience of our families, the strength of our communities and nations of indigenous people in light of this.”
Sexual Assault Education will be Mandatory for New Ontario judges
The Herald News reports sexual assault training will be required for new Ontario judges. There was an “outcry” over the comments by judges about complainants. The Ontario Court of Justice has a new plan specifying a mandatory education program for new judge.
It will include equality and legal topics. The provincial Progressive Conservative and Liberal politicians “have been pushing the issue at the provincial legislature.” Two private members? bills have been proposed for the training.
Headlines were made from a question of an Alberta judge and the statement of a Halifax judge. The Alberta judge asked why the sexual assault complainant couldn’t keep her knees closed. The Halifax judge said, “A drunk can consent.”
Scott Douglas Jacobsen is AUSU’s VPFA. He works with various organizations, and runs In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal, and In-Sight Publishing.