LRT Station Ready for Students on Sept. 6
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WELCOME BACK! THE Thursday, September 3, 2015 Volume 53, Issue 1 NAIT YOUR STUDENT NEWSPAPERNUGGET FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA SLOWLRT station TRAIN ready for students TO on NAITSept. 6 Photo by Lauren Hucal Nearly a year and a half after it was originally scheduled to open, the LRT Metro line to NAIT station (above) is set to debut with an adjusted schedule. Until the bugs are worked out, it will run at 25 km/h (inset photo). 2 The Nugget Thursday, September 3, 2015 NEWS&FEATURES A year full of politics first quarter of 2015, more than the total job light, with leader Greg Clark securing the (based on the fixed-date Canada Elections losses for all of 2014. Now, the value of the party’s first seat in the Legislature. Outside Act) making it the longest election campaign Canadian dollar has also dropped, hitting of the PCs, the only party to suffer losses in Canadian history. Again, this election is its lowest point since 2004. Oil prices had this election were the Alberta Liberals, who becoming anybody’s game, as long as you’re a significant impact in the Alberta provin- were reduced to a single seat. part of one of the big three political parties. cial election in May, seeing an end to the Yet it appears Albertans just can’t get Recent polling shows the NDP, the Liberal Progressive Conservative regime in a prov- away from the polls. A byelection for Cal- Party and the Progressive Conservatives in ince that has been seen as the Conservative gary-Foothills will be concluding Sept. 3. heated competition for Canadians’ votes. Of stronghold in the West for longer than most Why a byelection so soon? Well, Calgary- course, we can’t discount Elizabeth May’s NAIT students have been alive. Foothills is the riding for former Progres- Green Party picking up another seat but what NICOLAS BROWN What happened in May was nothing sive Conservative leader and Premier Jim appears to be the big focus this election is the Issues Editor short of astonishing – for nearly everyone Prentice. Mr. Prentice, who before the elec- ABC campaign – Anything But Conserva- @bruchev involved. The provincial NDP swept into tion was quoted as telling Albertans to tive, although at times it sounds like ABH – It’s been a busy summer for Albertans, power after 43 years of Conservative rule “look in the mirror” to find who is respon- Anything But Harper. With such a volatile with oil prices crashing, a provincial elec- with a strong majority, a majority that may sible for Alberta’s economic woes, did not political scene on the federal front, even for- tion, a byelection this week and a federal prove a boon or a curse as the party plunges even wait for the ballot count to be com- mer Bloq Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe election fast approaching. Some of you may head-on into governance for the first time pleted before resigning as leader of the has stepped back into the ring, taking the be asking “when will it end?” Now, I say, is in party history. The lack of experienced SS Progressive Conservative. Though he leadership of the ailing separatist party per- the best time to get involved. As the political MLAs has led to a reduced cadre of min- won the seat, his resignation left the riding haps in hope of reclaiming some seats from landscape of our country changes, the oppor- isters in the government caucus and plenty unrepresented at the legislature and forced the NDP after the Orange Crush of the 2011 tunity for the younger generation to affect of criticism from the party’s critics. The the residents of Calgary-Foothills to return federal election. that change is limitless. Let’s discuss what’s Wildrose also made a significant recovery to the polls for a second time this year. With the Canadian economy suffering, happened and what is happening. after what many viewed as betrayal when Now it’s time to ask Albertans, are will we see a repeat of our provincial elec- Often, the economy plays a role as a nine MLAs, including then-party leader you tired of going to the ballot box? Too bad, tion on a national scale? Will Canadian vot- driver of change. This year, it is certainly Danielle Smith, crossed the floor to the Tor- because now we have a federal election com- ers decide to exercise their democratic right proving to be so, as a plummet in the price ies. The party has managed to maintain its ing up! That’s right, Prime Minister Stephen to be heard and how will that affect the of oil and natural gas which started earlier position as Official Opposition and secured Harper has called the 42nd Canadian general future of our country? It’s anyone’s game this year has taken a toll on Alberta’s econ- most of southern Alberta’s ridings. The election. With the writ dropped on Aug. 2, it in this federal election but remember – your omy. Nearly 10,000 jobs were lost in the Alberta Party also stepped into the lime- puts the election campaign at 11 weeks long voice is important, so get out and vote! NAITSA’sPresident job Justin Nand says “the mostis important things tothat provide fundinghelp for clubs, equipment and facilities for them By ELYSSA TESLYK Student elections took place last February, providing the NAITSA does for the student body is represent them dur- to use so that any interests in program based clubs that they student body with a brand new executive team. The NAIT ing academic grievances, which is what our VP academic have, [allow them to] join or become part of leadership, or Students’ Association council consists of a president, a VP does. So, if a student is having trouble with an instructor, they may start a club themselves.” NAITSA also has the ser- Academic, VP External and VP Student Services. This might they can come to our VP Academic and get more informa- vice centre, which consists of four parts – a food centre, the leave you thinking, “Yeah, so what? What do they actually do tion and have someone represent them and help them in the U-PASS headquarters, health and dental insurance and emer- for me anyway?” situation. Another thing that NAITSA does for the student gency student loans, he said. NAITSA has a lot to offer everyone, really. As NAITSA body is having the foundations to start enjoying clubs. We Getting acquainted with your student government can help make your time at NAIT better in a variety of different ways. Your VP Exter- nal is required to communicate and develop relationships with students and staff on all satellite campuses in order to become a pro- active advocate for full-time, part-time, international, apprenticeship and continu- ing education students with the NAIT insti- tution and all levels of government. Keep in mind that the VP External can’t advocate unless you communicate! If VP External can’t help you, maybe VP Student Services can! What do you want to see campus life look like? VP Student Services can make sure that all the events and activities hosted are exactly what you are looking for to engage in student life on Justin Nand Yang Yu Allannah Wrobel Michael MacComb campus. Get involved, because change only President VP Academic VP External VP Student Services happens when you participate. Thursday, September 3, 2015 NEWS & FEATURES The Nugget 3 The Nugget Room E-128B 11762–106 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5G 2R1 Production Office 780-471-8866 www.thenuggetonline.com Editor-in-Chief Taylor Braat [email protected] Issues Editor Nicolas Brown [email protected] Sports Editor Photo by Lauren Hucal Josh Ryan A slowed-down version of the LRT line to the NAIT station (above) is scheduled to start running Sept. 6. [email protected] Entertainment Editors Connor O’Donovan [email protected] Debate still rages Photo Editors By NICOLAS BROWN with its own version of events, claiming the added bonus of the staged implementation is Lauren Hucal @bruchev company has been misrepresented and that that during peak hours, Metro line service will [email protected] It is a saga that NAIT students are all too misinformation has been released. start at Century Park station and provide full familiar with – the long-awaited (and much The company says it still has not received service to NAIT. Trains will not be travelling Online Editor debated) story of the Metro LRT line. Nearly a an official copy of the safety audit report from beyond Health Sciences station southbound [email protected] year and a half after it was originally scheduled the city’s consultant – an unpublished internal during off-peak and weekend service hours. Production Manager to open, the newest expansion to Edmonton’s report completed by a third party expert for the A downside to line of sight operations is a Frank MacKay LRT system is slated to debut with an adjusted City of Edmonton. decrease in overall LRT system frequency. Ser- schedule on Sept. 6. This doesn’t mean that the “We have not been advised of any actual vice between Churchill and Clareview will see [email protected] saga has come to an safety issue or defi- a decrease in frequency to an average of 7.5 Submissions encouraged: end, however. ciency in either the minutes between trains. To compensate, ETS is [email protected] The Metro design, the imple- adjusting Capital line service by running five- LRT line has been mentation or in the car trains during peak hours, versus three-car The opinions expressed by contribu- plagued with prob- safety case for the trains planned for the Metro line.