A former Katimavik participant reflects on the Conservative government's decision to cut the program.
youth
Getting the Muslim youth vote out in Ontario
Concerns have been raised about the lack of political engagement of Canadian youth. During the federal election, voting flash mobs at Canadian universities were seen as a way to get young voters excited and eager to vote.
Unfortunately, most efforts to engage youth have been initiated by groups and organizations that I feel do not reflect the ethno-cultural diversity of Canada's major cities. As an activist in Ottawa's Muslim communities who is passionate about civic engagement, I wanted to take a lead in addressing what I've seen as a lack of engagement among young Muslims of voting age.
Healthcare, education and pensions: Young and old need to join forces
On the eve of the second decade of the new century, a renewed alliance between young and old would help Canadians trying to make a better life for more citizens. Much of current public policy debate turns around attempts to foster irrational fears about what the future holds. A prime example is attempts to manipulate public opinion by evoking threats an aging population pose for our public healthcare system. The next generation will stagger around covering the debts incurred to look after the health (and income) needs of retirees; we are told this so often people start to believe it.
May 14, 2012 |
Despite some good news about job creation in Canada last month, CAW President Ken Lewenza says he remains concerned that younger workers are not benefitting.
Earth Day in Vancouver: Youth-led action against tankers and pipelines
We are a group of high school students who call ourselves “Youth 4 Climate Justice Now,” and we are organizing this year’s Vancouver Earth Day Parade & Celebration, hoping to build upon last year’s Earth Day event that brought out over 1,500 passionate people out to the streets on Vancouver.
This Sunday, April 22, 2012, starting at 11 a.m., people will be gathering at Commercial Drive Skytrain Station to march down to Grandview Park for speakers and entertainment. If you are in Vancouver, we hope you can join us. If you are somewhere else in Canada, look for an Earth Day event near you.
An open letter from a Katimavik participant
My name is Gabrielle de Montigny and I am 20 years old. I currently live in Toronto, Ont. and I would like to share my story.
First of all, I would like to state how deeply hurt and saddened I am by the Conservative government's decision to cut the Katimavik program out of the federal budget.
When I heard the news, I felt sad for those who would never experience what I have experienced. In this letter I would like to tell you specifically how Katimavik impacted me and those around me and how it has the potential to impact so many other youth and communities around Canada. I am not one to write letters personally but given the profound impact Katimavik has had on me, I strongly believe that you need to hear my story.
How much will you lose from OAS deferral?
Announcing a bad policy 10 years in advance doesn't make it a good policy.
So the fact that the Harper government is giving people at least 10 years to prepare for two years of life without an important source of income, hardly makes it OK -- as so many media commentators have tritely implied. In fact, in this case it makes the policy even more unfair.
