Columns

DEAR SANDRA

Dear Sandra: I am a full-time university student in my thirties. I’m proud to be completing my education, even if I did start later than a lot of others. The problem is that many of my friends and family members cannot understand why I’m in school at my age, instead of working. How should I… Read more »

Fed Watch!

Got a Virus? Go to Jail. The Federal Government is looking at making some changes in what it calls the Lawful Access Laws (SEE: http://www.ic.gc.ca/cmb/welcomeic.nsf/cdd9dc973c4bf6bc852564ca006418a0). A lot of these involve the new means of communicating through the Internet and what kinds of powers that police should have regarding search and seizure of this type of… Read more »

From My Perspective

As discussed in last week’s article, addictions are complex and can involve a variety of substances or activities. An addiction is not a sign of personal weakness or lack of moral character – anyone can become addicted. How does a person become addicted and how can you determine if you have a problem? The process… Read more »

From My Perspective

Over the past few weeks, I’ve learned a great deal about addictive substances and addictions. It is a complex and multi-dimensional topic, and people hold many misconceptions about not only the process of addiction, but about the types of people who are addicts. Many people see addiction as a weakness, a character flaw in a… Read more »

Fed Watch!

Fun With Fees It’s that time of year again. Statistics Canada has released their annual look at University Tuition Fees (SEE: http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/020821/d020821b.htm). The bottom line results are that, over all, post-secondary tuition fees in Canada rose 4.1% over the last year. This is more than twice what the general inflation rate was over the same… Read more »

From My Perspective

Last issue I began discussing an issue of concern for my family, my neighbourhood and myself. In a neighbourhood-organized rally, I was protesting the opening of a Source Adult Video store at the end of my street. Not only does this store rent adult videos, it sells sex toys, gifts, clothing and magazines. It is… Read more »

FED WATCH!

Alberta Government Makes Hay over Hay The Alberta Government is very proud to announce its assistance (SEE: http://www.gov.ab.ca/acn/200208/12980.html ) to the tune of $200,000 to get surplus hay from Eastern Canada shipped over here to Alberta so that our farmers have something to feed their cattle. Of course, this assistance will not cover the full… Read more »

From My Perspective

Standing on the street with a protest sign is a new experience for me. The closest I’ve come is during high school when I participated in a sit-in to protest administration rules against wearing shorts to class in summer. We were sent back to class and the no-shorts rule remained. Although at the time we… Read more »

FED WATCH!

FOIP follies The University of Calgary has been found to be in breach of an employee’s privacy. In the case details (SEE: http://www.gov.ab.ca/acn/200208/12942.html) an employee had called the university’s campus security with respect to an incident regarding an employee, the employee’s spouse, and other staff and the employee’s supervisor. The employee and spouse were removed… Read more »