CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN.....................5 Cirque du Soleil opens this weekend with a new act titled Amaluna, featuring a predominantly female cast twirling around a mysterious island the Check us out online at langaravoice.com This week look for special features on Bright oice Nights at Stanley Park and an immigrant DAILY exhibition at the Musuem of Vancouver. PRODUCED BY LANGARA JOURNALISMV STUDENTS November 27, 2012 • vol. 45 No. 9 • vaNcouver, b.c. THE NIGHT OF FIGHTS BOXING LSU objects Mayors to ‘Vote No’ pocket campaign Aboriginal students oppose move to hold all money union meetings in camera. By JANA MINOR Some politicians epresentatives of the Langara Students’ Union have told stu- keep pay while Rdents behind a “Vote No” poster campaign to cease and desist their op- position to the bylaw referendum cur- others decline rently underway. Three students, all members of the By RICHARD HODGES LSU’s aboriginal issues committee, have placed a number of posters he Canadian Taxpayers Federa- around the campus urging students to tion (CTF) is taking five lower vote against a plan that would see all mainland mayors and council- LSU meetings held in camera and Tlors to task for not waiving their would cancel all elections until the fall meeting fees at a conference two and a of 2013. The referendum continues un- half months ago. til Dec. 5 At the Vancouver Convention Centre But a member of the B.C. Civil Liber- on September 16, the city of Vancouver ties Association says the LSU has no hosted a conference on their Zero right to make such a demand. John Waste Challenge. While 20 non-elected Dixon said the initiative’s opponents speakers took no money for their in- have every right to express their con- volvement, CTF director Jordan Bate- cerns and to put up posters. Dixon man says Vancouver councillor Andrea urged the LSU to honour that freedom Reimer, Richmond Mayor Malcolm of expression. Brodie, Delta Mayor Lois Jackson, “I don’t think the government shuts Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan and down websites against the Enbridge STEVEN CHUA photo Surrey councillor Marvin Hunt collect- pipelines,” wrote Dwight Kematch, ed their usual fees. Langara general studies student Jerik Brown, left, on guard against Remy Laovoie who emailed Dixon about deficiencies Documents obtained by Bateman during The Night of Fights at the Vancouver Italian Cultural Centre last Thursday. he perceived in the process leading up through a Freedom of Information re- to the present referendum. Kematch quest show that Brodie was paid $692 noted that student consultation ses- from Metro Vancouver for his full day sions were held when most students at the conference while the others re- were in class. ceived $346 for half day visits. Ethnic groups anti-reefer “This is not a racial thing how “If they have a keen interest in this they’re playing this out to be, this is project and it means that much to them The Conservatives’ values align with the ethic community over pot about holding them accountable,” said why are they keeping money others Kematch’s colleague, Chris Cardinal. “I have declined,” asked Bateman. “Politi- legalization as political pressure builds over the psychoactive drug think that the native students actually cians should not be paid extra for doing just hit a nerve with them about why their job just because they’re in the they’re not being transparent about By KEVIN HAMPSON “[Pot] is not good for the health or public sector.” the funds that are available for events the development of the brain,” said Councillor Hunt strongly disagrees and things.” ecent polls suggest the Conserva- Imam Abdul Razzaq. that he did anything wrong. On Monday the aboriginal commit- tive government’s marijuana poli- Pharmacist Sameh Elbably said that “If you’re a nice guy and you donate tee had booked an event in the Stu- cy is out of sync with popular he supports the use of pot for medical $100 to the local food bank does it R dents’ Union Building. But the LSU opinion, but the Tories may be right in purposes, but society should discour- makes sense to fire off emails asking wanted them to cancel it because they step with the values of Canada’s ethnic age its recreational use. why the rest of the office isn’t doing the said they had booked the space for a communities. “[Pot] has negative effects on the Let“ the same?” he asked. bylaw information session. The aborig- A recent poll conducted by Forum central nervous system, it effects the Hunt said the paperwork for these mayor and inal students said no. Research suggested that 65 per cent of brain, cognition,” he said. Legalizing fees are filled out by his office and he’s “They wanted to set up tables for Canadians, and 73 per cent of British the drug would encourage its abuse anybody not responsible for personally approv- bylaw reasons and we said no because Columbians, support either legalizing and open the door to traffic accidents, ing each one. who wants today is our event,” said Cardinal. or decriminalizing marijuana. But eth- he added. “It’s a part of being on the Metro and “ They should realize they can’t dou- nic communities in South Vancouver Politicians who support legalization to smoke expected when you’re invited to speak ble-book on our day. We planned this a are staunchly against the idea. just want to make money at the ex- on a subject you’re knowledgeable it, smoke it month ago. And they planned this two “We think marijuana is illegal for a pense of the public good, said Sam about,” he said. “The waste challenge days ago.” reason,” said Pastor Yu Jian Hong of Abouzant, a retired engineer. in private, is a good thing, I’m not sure why I’m For its part, the LSU said there was a Ebenezer Baptist Church. The church’s “Let the mayor and anybody who the bad guy here.” so they lot of misunderstanding around the Mandarin services have attracted wants to smoke it, smoke it in private, Mayor Lois Jackson was unsure don’t harm proposed bylaw, and that the aborigi- about 380 parishioners. so they don’t harm anybody else,” what conference Bateman was refer- nal students’ “Vote No” campaign was Pot is bad for society, Hong said, so Abouzant said. anybody ring to initially, and seem exasperated ill-informed. LSU staffer Saadia Rai the government should discourage its “It’s like a ‘soma’ drug,” added Far- with the challenge. else.” said none of the aboriginal students at- use. Legalization would amount to an han Jan, a communications student at “Don’t these people have anything tended meetings where the bylaw was endorsement, he added. “Why send SFU. SAM ABOUZANT better to do?” she asked. discussed, and so don’t understand the the signal to young people that it’s “Soma” is the drug dispensed by the The Zero Waste Challenge is in its issue. OK?” totalitarian state in Aldous Huxley’s second year and focuses on reducing “Our intentions are well-meaning,” Up the street, at the Fraserview novel, Brave New World. Pot renders waste by encouraging recycling and re- said Rai. use through bylaws and behavior Muslim Community Centre, the con- people apathetic and dumb, making changes. sensus was much the same. them easier to control, Jan said. See STORY SLUGCAPS, page 3 Printed on recycled paper Check out our web exclusives at http://langaravoice.com/ 2 THE DAILY VOICE, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2012 EDITOR STACY THOMAS news & features Labour Fed leadership challenged CUPE supports one of its own, Michelle Laurie, as “best choice” to usurp Jim Sinclair By JENNIFER THUNCHER clair’s leadership after twelve years in of hundreds of delegates on Monday, more accountable and focus on train- power. there was no sign of the intense con- ing and education. he union that represents Langa- This challenge comes at a critical test for the top seat. According to delegate Doug Mackay CUPE’s ra support staff says it is time for time for Sinclair and the BC Fed. Instead Sinclair focused his attack of the electrician’s union, Laurie is the Top pick a change at the top of the B.C With the NDP quite high in the polls on the provincial Liberal’s lack of ac- best choice now. “I have no problem Federation of Labour. and the Liberals on the ropes over vari- tion on temporary workers, referenc- with Jim [Sinclair], but we need a Master’s Degree in T Environment and The Canadian Union of Public Em- ous scandals, the Fed is set to have the ing HD Mining in northern B.C. change. She would make a good lead- ployees (CUPE) is backing Michelle ear of Adrian Dix and the NDP who The company “plan [s] to bring hun- er,” said Mackay, who sported a bright Development Laurie, of the electricians’ union, for may next run this province. dreds of temporary workers without green “Support Laurie” shirt. Worked with BC president against Jim Sinclair at the Langara Faculty Association presi- rights to extract our coal . Christy Hospital Employee Union spokes- Hydro, Engineers dent Lynn Carter says the convention Clark and the B.C. government saw woman Bonnie Pearson supports Sin- Fed convention being held this week in Canada, Environ- Vancouver. always offers a great opportunity for nothing wrong with that,” said Sin- clair. ment Canada “Under Michelle Laurie’s leadership, labour activists to get together. clair. “Jim doesn’t just support union card I’m confident that the BC Federation of She doesn’t think the challenge to For her part, Laurie says it is time holders,” Pearson said “he was funda- President of Local Labour will become more relevant to Sinclair’s leadership is a negative for a change of leadership so that a mental in the fight for minimum wage .