niagara-news.com CHANGES TO WHAT GOES INTO YOUR BLUE BOX PAGE 6 THE COMING OF AGE WITH ‘BAND GEEK’ NN PAGE 11 NIAGARA NEWS JANUARY 25, 2019 • VOL. 50 ISSUE 6 WARS OF WORDS From populism to Indigenous rights, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau focused on civil discourse as he faced both protest and applause at Brock University. Stories and photos on pages 7-8 By VICTORIA NICOLAOU Staff Writer Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said social media and the way we commu- nicate has empowered xenophobic populism around the world, allowing concealed voices to connect and amplify one another. But, according to Trudeau, those voices are not as pow- erful as they seem. “It seems like they have a lot more volume and a lot more presence than they actually do,” said Trudeau. Trudeau spoke about the rise of populist rhetoric dur- ing a stop at Brock Univer- sity in St. Catharines, Ont. Jan. 15 as part of his cross- country town hall tour. Without naming names, Trudeau said politicians are taking society’s anxi- eties about an uncertain job market and questions about the future and using it against them. Trudeau said politicians are offer- ing understanding but no concrete solutions. But Trudeau said he feels inspired by conversations he’s had with people across the country. “We have a country that understands that respect- ing someone else’s funda- mental rights in no way takes away from your own fundamental rights,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes questions at a town hall hosted by Brock University in St. Catharines on Jan. 15. The event at Brock is the Trudeau. only Ontario stop on a countrywide tour. PHOTO BY VICTORIA NICOLAOU Continued on page 7 College accepts record number of students — again More than 2,000 new students this term as we continue to grow By MADISON JUDSON semester. “With our student- Employment, Graduate Staff Writer The message from the focused, inclusive approach Satisfaction, Employer college seems to be: for a to applied learning at Ni- Satisfaction and Gradua- Niagara College is em- hands-on, post-secondary agara College, we continue tion rate. education and a warm, to attract students from Statistics show that last of a tight, inclusive com- welcoming environment, across Canada and around year had a student satisfac- phasizingmunity as allit continuesthe benefits to Niagara College is the the world to study with us.” tion rate of 78.4 per cent, a attract students and top all place to be. Niagara College has re- graduate employment rate enrollment records. “We are thrilled to wel- mained one of the top tier of 89 per cent, a graduate According to a press re- come our new students to colleges in Ontario due to satisfaction of 78.9 per lease from the college, the experience college life and cent, an employer satisfac- Welland and Niagara-on- begin their journeys to suc- Performance Indicators tion of 88.1 per cent and a the-Lake campuses will be cess,” said Niagara College the increase of the five Key graduation rate of 65.8 per having over 2,000 students President Dan Patterson in cent. The Core at the Welland campus, filled with new and starting during the winter the press release. (KPIs).Satisfaction, Graduate Continued on Page 2 returning students alike. PHOTO BY MADISON JUDSON The five KPIs are Student Page 2 NIAGARA NEWS • Jan. 25, 2019 NEWS Local activists support protest against pipeline GUNCE AKPINAR Canada pipeline is set to offered to the earth and the Staff Writer pass through more than 60 reason why we do that is Indigenous communities tobacco is one of our four Activists rose in support and is going to affect wilder- sacred medicines,” says of the Wet’suwet’en terri- ness and marine life along Smith. tory in British Columbia and the West Coast of Canada, According to Indigenous its struggle against a pipe- opponents argue. legends, tobacco is a gift line in their territory, during Smith says she is disap- from the Creator, and if a a demonstration on Jan. 16, pointed with Trudeau. person is sick or old, this held in front of the Holiday “Three years ago, when person could use its smoke Inn in St. Catharines. he (Trudeau) started his The demonstration campaign he made a lot of woods and to remember included drums, signs and promises (to Indigenous tobeautiful find medicines days. in the a tobacco offering cer- peoples) but a lot of them But a person with great emony outside the hotel, are not actually true.” magic grows tobacco and where Prime Minister More than 50 people from keeps all of it for himself on Justin Trudeau was the different social groups of an island. guest speaker at a breakfast society were waiting for the Gluskabe who lives with fundraiser. sunrise to begin the tobacco his grandmother Wood- - offering. chuck, steals this tobacco rorized,” says Celeste Tobacco is one of the to share with everyone. He Smith,“We’re organizer definitely of terthe sacred medicines of Indig- says his children’s children protest. “What happened enous peoples. The other are going to grow tobacco in Wet’suwet’en was a plan three are sweetgrass, sage and are going to share with to terrorize us. It sends a and cedar. everyone. message to all the rest of, Tobacco burning or offer- Further, tobacco is a the Indigenous peoples who ing is one of the traditional way to show respect. If try to stop the pipeline. This ceremonies. It is a way to a younger person wants is what’s going to happen communicate with the Cre- information or advice from Protesters held signs until sunrise for the tobacco ceremony. to you.” ator they believe in. an elder, he or she needs to PHOTO BY GUNCE AKPINAR The controversial Trans- “Tobacco offering, we offer tobacco to the elders. Here’s what OSAP changes mean Students 10-per-cent tuition cut but also cuts to grants and interest-free grace period matter By TALA MUHTADI “Under the current pro- qualify for OSAP. The focus $50,000 will be eligible to However funds for health, in the Staff Writer gram, students from higher of OSAP is low-income receive up to 86 per cent of counselling and recreation income families were families, making it harder grants. will remain mandatory. Replacing the free tuition receiving grants just for for other students to be “If we look at the grants, The six-month interest- College grants with a 10 per cent applying - not because they eligible for grants. we’re actually increasing free period was also cut to university and had a demonstrated need,” “We want to ensure that the share of OSAP grants removed by Ford’s govern- college tuition fees, was says minister of Training, post-secondary education for families less than ment which made many Continued from Page 1 one of the many changes Colleges and Universities, remains accessible for all $50,000 dollars a year in students angry believing Casey Fevriere, an Inter- announced by Ontario Pre- Merrilee Fullerton. students,” says Niagara income. It’s going from 76 that they will have to start national Response Rep- mier Doug Ford’s govern- Free tuition is gone. College’s communications per cent to 82 per cent. paying back their loan right resentative, was a former ment, on Jan. 17. Previously, students could manager, Michael Wales. That’ll be an increase for after graduating. Niagara College student and The 2019-20 school year receive more grants than According to the previ- OSAP grants for families What many students now helps international stu- will receive a 10 per cent loans, which meant some ous Liberal plan, families below $50,000,” says don’t realize is that OSAP dents with inquiries about tuition cut, as well as be the students had the potential with annual incomes of Fullerton in a CBC Metro funds include both provin- the college. last year the Ontario Stu- to study for free. With the $140,000 (lowered from Morning interview. cial and federal funds, only “It’s a very welcoming dent Assistance Program’s changes made to tuition $175,000) or above are Ford is giving students the federal funds will be af- place,” said Fevriere. previous distribution rules and OSAP, the grants-to- only eligible to receive the opportunity to opt out fected by the change which “It doesn’t feel like a will apply. After that period, loan ratio can’t exceed 50 loans and no grant, on the of some school fees like means students don’t have school. It sometimes feels OSAP will be focusing on per cent. other hand families with school clubs, student news- to pay back their loans like a family.” low-income families. Fewer students may now annual incomes of less than papers and campus groups. fresh out of school. Niagara College has also been commended on their helpful staff and professors. “The teachers are Parking woes continue Administration Executive phenomenal,”Co-op student saidVanessa Office By DEVYN STEWART Last semester was notori- Charlie Short, another Keays. Staff Writer ously bad when it came to student at the college, “They’re easy to talk to anything parking related; - and reasonable.” - obtaining a parking pass, culty in getting a parking ties that come along with alsopass, expressed though he no noted diffi that beingThere a student, are many such difficul as ex- to the building you needed “others I know have had You get treated finding a parking spot close- “ like you matter routine and student fees. ing a parking spot. “Any time after 9 a.m.