CFS

Progressive Voices

Sexual violence at college and university

April 5, 2013

| Sarah King addresses the rape culture at college and university, "stranger danger," inadequate efforts of university administrators to combat sexual violence, and more.

Length: 11:35 minutes (10.62 MB)

Drawing blood from stones: The relentless tuition fee hike

Nora Loreto

| March 28, 2013

Ontario announced a new tuition fee framework today. It's the first time that the Liberal government has changed it in seven years.

In 2006, Dalton McGuinty punched students in the face with a five per cent, on average, fee increase. It was supposed to last four years, but was extended, painfully, until 2012.

During the 2011 Ontario election, the Liberals introduced a grant to help offset the burden of these fees for some students. To those of us who spent days analyzing the Liberal proposal and strategy, it was clear that they had hoped to divert some of the negative attention on their tuition policy by offering a confusing, runner-up prize.

Allegations of allegations of racism and debate obscuring at the CFS general meeting

Nora Loreto

| December 5, 2012

Racism, accusations of racism and white people.

This trio has stymied many an activist, especially when he or she believes the stakes to be high enough to warrant pulling out this special collision of criticism. When the three collide, accidents are bound to be made.

Quebec student activists respond to 'Open letter to the CFS'

Campus Notes

| June 2, 2012

The following is a response to Activist Communique: Open Letter to the Canadian Federation of Students, which was published on May 18 on krystalline kraus's blog. The letter called for the CFS to "engage in a consistent and serious mobilizing effort to bring the Quebec student movement to the rest of Canada."

Open Letter to the CFS: A Response from Quebec Activists

We write as student activists in Québec who have been involved in organizing the 2011-2012 general student strike - on both anglophone and francophone campuses.

Right-wing reform package defeated at CFS meeting

Andrew Brett

| December 1, 2009

At last week’s national general meeting of the Canadian Federation of Students, delegates rejected a series of motions put forward by members participating in a coordinated defederation campaign against the student organization.

Months ago, I wrote about workshops the Conservative Party was organizing across the country, training their members on how to defund progressive campus groups like Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) and defederate from the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS).

Students across Ontario held a spirited day of action Nov. 5 to protest high tuition fees. (Photo: John Bonnar)

Related rabble.ca story:

Photo Essay: Canadian Federation of Students Day of Action

Tags:

CFS Ontario student issues #tornews

Target Poverty Campaign for a Poverty Free Manitoba/Ontaro

Hey folks,

Concurrent events going on in Manitoba and Ontario, planned by the relative provincial offices of the Canadian Federation of Students, for the Nov. 5th Day of Action. This year the goal is to build a broad coalition and focus on the broader issue of poverty, which includes student poverty.

Manitoba: http://targetpoverty.ca/

Ontario: http://dropfees.ca/index.php?section_id=40

Tags:

students CFS poverty student activism canadian federation of students

Conservatives trying to take over student unions: audiotapes

Andrew Brett

| March 17, 2009

A series of audiotapes recorded at workshops held by the Ontario Progressive Conservative Campus Association show that the Conservative party is trying to take over student organizations – by any means necessary.

The workshops are held in cities across the province, with topics ranging from how to win a student union election to how to combat and remove funding for progressive student organizations such as the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) and the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS).

Even more disturbing is that these trainings are being organized with the support and resources of Canada’s governing party, evidenced by the participation of Conservative MP Peter Braid and his campaign manager, Aaron Lee-Wudrick.

The Kids are All... Where?

Beisan Zubi

| October 15, 2008

As a member of the oft-ignored youth vote, I see some stirrings on my university campus to get out there and have our voices heard. Since the 1960s, when the younger generation was a strong force in societal changes taking place across North America, the atmosphere has settled into one of (perceived) apathy and ignorance.

I see this on my university campus, where a vocal and compassionate minority attempt to affect interest in the silent majority. Organizations such the Canadian Federation of Students (the CFS is one of the biggest student-focused lobby groups in Canada) have been organizing debates and information sessions across Canadian campuses, and while I can't speak for the whole country, a lot of this work goes unnoticed. Why is this?

CFS