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Fears raised over impact of tinkering with student fees

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At the York University food bank, shelves and refrigerators are stocked to try to keep up with growing demand — but this crucial service, funded by student fees, could be in jeopardy.

That’s because the food bank is operated by the students’ union and beginning in the fall all post-secondary students will be able to opt out of ancillary fees considered non-essential, such as those earmarked for student associations.

Student fees fund things like student newspapers, including Ryerson University’s Eyeopener.
Student fees fund things like student newspapers, including Ryerson University’s Eyeopener.  (Photo Supplied)

The Food Support Centre is one of many services run by the union, and is “the closest one to my heart,” explains Rawan Habib, president of the York Federation of Students, which represents about 48,000 undergraduate students.

“Every month we see more students registering,” she says. “It’s something they desperately need.”

In September, the union moved the food bank out of a room the size of a walk-in closet that serviced about 800 students a month, into a larger space that now sees 1,300 students each month. But how this food bank will look next September is unclear.

That’s because Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government announced changes that will impact college and university students, such as cutting tuition by 10 per cent, ending free tuition for lower-income students and getting rid of mandatory ancillary fees.

Currently, students pay ancillary fees on top of tuition to cover costs for campus-wide services, facilities and clubs, among other things. These fees differ by school, but range between several hundred dollars to $2,000. Last month, Doug Ford’s government announced the creation of a new fee structure. Starting in September, all ancillary fees will be itemized and categorized as being for essential or non-essential services. Students can opt out of the latter.

Dubbed the Student Choice Initiative, it has been lauded and lambasted. Supporters say it puts money in students’ pockets and keeps them from paying for things they don’t use or support. But critics call it an attack on student unions and campus media and say it will kill campus life.

According to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, fees considered essential are those that support student buildings, career services, financial aid offices, walksafe programs, transit passes, athletics and recreation, academic supports, health and counselling, student ID cards, transcripts and convocation. These fees remain mandatory. Students will be able to opt out of health and dental plans if they have pre-existing coverage.

Rawan Habib, president of the York Federation of Students, is shown in the food bank at York University, which is run by the student union and funded by student fees.
Rawan Habib, president of the York Federation of Students, is shown in the food bank at York University, which is run by the student union and funded by student fees.  (Rene Johnston/Toronto Star)

Non-essential services include fees for spaces, services and activities that promote campus life and community, such as media, student clubs, campus cafés and restaurants, and student unions, which support a variety of initiatives and groups. These fees will be optional.

Each school will determine what is essential and provide a detailed breakdown of fees.

Minister Merrilee Fullerton says the change brings “predictability and transparency” and makes students feel more “empowered and informed about their own finances.”

“We are giving students a choice to decide where they spend their money,” she said when announcing the change at a news conference in January.

Days later, a spending scandal at Ryerson University erupted, with the student union facing allegations of financial mismanagement after credit card statements showed questionable purchases at places such as restaurants, night clubs and the LCBO. A forensic audit will review nearly $700,000 in expenses.

The events prompted the premier to post a news story about it on Twitter and comment.

“I’ve heard from so many students who are tired of paying excessive fees, only to see them wasted and abused,” tweeted Ford. “That’s why we’re giving students the power to choose to pay for the campus services they actually use.”

But choice already exists, according to leaders of more than 75 students’ unions from colleges and universities in Canada who say they represent 1.3 million students. In a letter to Fullerton and Ford, they say student governments regularly hold referendums on ancillary fees, letting students vote on which services and programs to support.

They also note the current fee structure provides continuity and stability for budgeting purposes, whereas the opt-out will result in uncertainty because groups won’t be able to anticipate how many students will use it.

“Without stable, predictable funding, student unions will be forced to end a wide variety of programs and services — everything from mental health to sexual assault supports, and (lay off) thousands of students that work at on-campus businesses,” reads the letter. “With a 10 per cent tuition cut and no additional public funding, we know institutions themselves won’t pick up the slack.”

Jasmyn St. Hilaire, director of communications and internal at the student association of George Brown College, says the union hopes to work with administration to ensure it continues to deliver services, which include a food bank, peer support for marginalized students and income tax clinics.

“We’re really trying hard not to have to cut anything but we’ll see how that goes,” said St. Hilaire.

At the University of Toronto, Sandy Welsh, vice-provost for students, says the school values the contributions of student societies and their services.

“All student groups are concerned about how this will affect them. We will be meeting with leaders of student societies to answer questions.”

But even administrators have questions.

At the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Brad MacIsaac, the assistant vice-president of planning and analysis, says, “There’s still so much that’s unknown.”

“We’re still working with the ministry to ensure we know all of the rules and regulations — we’re hoping that within the month we’ll have the technical document.”

Having to create a new online system for students to opt in or opt out that’s up and running by the summer in time for registration, “is definitely a lot of work at a very busy time of year.”

MacIsaac doesn’t think many students in the upper years will opt out because they understand how clubs and services “enhance the student engagement.” But he’s concerned first-year students, who’ve never experienced campus life, will be more likely to opt out.

Nour Alideeb, chairperson of Canadian Federation of Students Ontario, with 350,000 members, says the Student Choice Initiative is a government ploy to “take out the student groups that hold them accountable.”

“It’s a direct attack on student organizing and groups … and campus publications,” she says.

Nour Alideeb, chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students, took part in a rally at Queen's Park in January to protest cuts to OSAP and campus groups that would be affected by the funding cuts.
Nour Alideeb, chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students, took part in a rally at Queen’s Park in January to protest cuts to OSAP and campus groups that would be affected by the funding cuts.  (Steve Russell/Toronto Star)

Alideeb, an undergraduate student at UofT, worries advocacy and counselling groups, such as those that work with LGBTQ students, are at risk.

“These student groups save lives. It’s not just what happens in the classroom that supports students to be successful.”

Also in jeopardy, she fears, are student centres, which create a sense of community on campus, saying “This is really going to kill student life and the student experience.”

She recognizes that saving money is important, especially for those impacted by financial aid changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), and already struggling to pay for food or rent. But ultimately, some will be faced with a dilemma.

“Students will have to make the decision between short-term gain or the long-term experience of being involved with a student community and having access to those things.”

Her comments are echoed, in part, by Charles Pascal, professor at UofT’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

“When students pay fees they are paying to increase the quality of life for everybody,” says the former Ontario deputy minister of education. “The moment you allow students to opt out, many will, and it will kill those activities.

“The word choice can be a real weapon against something that’s good for everyone. So if 50 per cent of students opt out of student fees, what’s going to happen to the social fabric and supports that are provided through those fees?”

Kieran Moloney, president of Carleton’s Conservatives, welcomes the opt-out because it’s a way for students to “materially reduce” tuition and not support student groups they don’t agree with.

Students make their way out of the tent following convocation ceremony at York University in 2018. Student fees help fund cultural and special services such as convocation at York.
Students make their way out of the tent following convocation ceremony at York University in 2018. Student fees help fund cultural and special services such as convocation at York.  (Bernard Weil/Toronto Star file photo)

“In the real world, if you want to be part of something you pay for it, if not, you shouldn’t,” he says.

He suspects Ontario will end up with a patchwork, with some schools deeming certain things essential, while others consider them non-essential. And he worries certain groups will play up elements of what they do to be considered essential.

Moloney isn’t opposed to student unions, saying many do good work — his group receives funding from the union — but there are questionable ones, he says, referring to the recent problems at Ryerson Students’ Union.

At Ryerson, an arts and science undergraduate student pays about $911 in ancillary fees, which is the lowest among universities, according to Common University Data Ontario. Of that amount, $130 are fees for the union, which has an operating budget of $2.7 million.

Jacob Dubé, editor-in-chief of the Ryerson student newspaper The Eyeopener, which broke the story on the spending scandal, says some students are using it as an example of why the opt-out is a good idea. But, he notes, the union also supports groups and policies that are vital for campus life.

And his own newspaper, which has doggedly investigated the union, relies on the student levy — in the 2017-2018 year, it received $430,000 in student fees, as approved by a democratic referendum.

“Without (student fees) the paper would be completely different,” says Dubé. “We would definitely not be as involved in the community as we would like.”

He says student media are the only ones keeping close watch over unions and administrations.

“If these levies were to be in jeopardy, then, basically, anyone at any university that didn’t have a paper could run rampant.”

At York University, Matt Dionne, editor-in-chief of the Excalibur student newspaper, says without the student levy “we would very likely not exist.” And that, he says, would be a blow to a campus with a population of about 60,000 students and staff.

Dionne is concerned about how the university is going to implement this policy. If media is lumped together under one student fee, that could be a problem for those who support one organization but not another. But if every single item is listed, he suspects students won’t read through them all, and may just opt out of everything.

It’s hard to predict how students will react — York lets students opt out of some ancillary fees and only a handful have done so. For example, just one person opted out of paying the $2.10 fee for the Sexual Assault Survivors Support Line.

At this point, the student union has no idea what the impact will be on its budget, so it can’t say how services, campaigns and events will be affected.

“That’s the scary part,” says Habib. “I want to commit to ensuring that (students will) still be able to access the things they need. But I can’t give them an answer as of yet because we’re in the dark.”

With files from Kristin Rushowy

Isabel Teotonio is a Toronto-based reporter covering education. Follow her on Twitter: @Izzy74

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Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme

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Get a taste of adventure with Starburst XXXtreme based on the legendary NetEnt Game. The nostalgic themes are sure to capture fans of the classic version as they get treated to higher intensity, better visuals, and features. The most significant element of the game is its volatility. Patience will not be an essential virtue considering the insane gameplay, and there is a lot of win potential involved. It retains the original makeup of the previous game while adding a healthy dose of adrenaline. 

Starburst Visuals and Symbols

The game is definitely more conspicuous than before. The setting happens over a 5-reel, 3-row game grid with nine fixed win lines, which function if a succession from the left to the right reel is present. Only those players that that attain the highest win per bet line are paid. From a visual standpoint, the Starburst XXXtreme slots illustrates lightning effects behind the reels, which is not surprising as it is inherited from the original version. Available themes include Classic, Jewels, and Space. The game is also available in both desktop and mobile versions, which is advantageous for players considering the global pandemic. According to Techguide, American gamers are increasingly having more engaging gaming experiences to socialize to fill the gap of in-person interaction. Starburst XXXtreme allows them to fill the social void at a time when there is so much time to be had indoors. 

Starburst XXXTreme Features

Players get to alternate on three features which are Starburst Wilds, XXXtreme Spins, and Random Wilds. The first appears on reels 2,3, or 4. When these land, they expand to cover all positions while also calculating the wins. They are also locked for a respin. If a new one hits, it also becomes locked while awarding another respin. Starburst XXXtreme offers a choice between two scenarios for a higher stake. In one scenario with a ten times stake, the Starburst Wild is set on random on reels 2,3, or 4, and a multiplier starts the respin. The second scenario, which has a 95 times stake, starts with two guaranteed starburst wilds on reels 2,3, or 4. it also plays out using respin game sequence and features. The game also increases the potential with the Random Wilds feature to add Starburst Wilds to a vacant reel at the end of a spin. Every Starburst Wild gives a random multiplier with potential wins of x2, x3, x5, x10, x25, x50, x100, or even x150.

The new feature is sure to be a big hit with the gaming market as online gambling has shown significant growth during the lockdown. AdAge indicates the current casino customer base is an estimated one in five Americans, so Starburst XXXtreme’s additional features will achieve considerable popularity. 

What We Think About The Game

The gambling market has continued to diversify post-pandemic, so it is one of the most opportune times to release an online casino-based game. Thankfully Starburst XXXtreme features eye-catching visuals, including the jewels and space themes. These attract audience participation and make the gameplay inviting. The game also has a nostalgic edge. The previous NetEnt iteration featured similar visuals and gameplay, so the audience has some familiarity with it. The producers have revamped this version by tweaking the features to improve the volatility and engagement. 

That is characterized by the potential win cap of 200,000 times the bet. Starburst XXXtreme does not just give betting alternatives for players that want to go big. The increase of multipliers also provides a great experience. If the respins in the previous version were great, knowing that multipliers can go hundreds of times overtakes the game to a new level. 

Players should get excited about this offering. All of the features can be triggered within a single spin. Whether one plays the standard game or takes the XXXtreme spin route, it is possible to activate all of the features. Of course, the potential 200,000 times potential is a huge carrot. However, the bet size is probably going to be restricted and vary depending on the casino. It is also worth pointing out that a malfunction during the gameplay will void all of the payouts and progress. Overall, the game itself has been designed to provide a capped win of 200,000 times the original bet. 

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Anglais

‘We’re back’: Montreal festival promoters happy to return but looking to next year

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In downtown Montreal, it’s festival season.

In the city’s entertainment district, a musical act was conducting a sound check on stage Friday evening — the second day of the French-language version of the renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival. Tickets for many of the festival’s free outdoor shows — limited by COVID-19 regulations — were sold out.

Two blocks away, more than 100 people were watching an acoustic performance by the Isaac Neto Trio — part of the last weekend of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, a celebration of music from the African continent and the African diaspora.

With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit capacity, festival organizers say they’re glad to be back but looking forward to next year when they hope border restrictions and capacity limits won’t affect their plans.

Charles Décarie, Just For Laughs’ CEO and president, said this is a “transition year.”

“Even though we have major constraints from the public health group in Montreal, we’ve managed to design a festival that can navigate through those constraints,” Décarie said.

The French-language Juste pour rire festival began on July 15 and is followed by the English-language festival until July 31.

When planning began in February and March, Décarie said, organizers came up with a variety of scenarios for different crowd sizes, ranging from no spectators to 50 per cent of usual capacity.

“You’ve got to build scenarios,” he said. “You do have to plan a little bit more than usual because you have to have alternatives.”

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MELS new major movie studio to be built in Montreal

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MONTREAL — MELS Studios will build a new film studio in Montreal, filling some of the gap in supply to meet the demand of Hollywood productions.

MELS president Martin Carrier said on Friday that MELS 4 studio construction will begin « as soon as possible », either in the fall or winter of next year. The studio could host productions as early as spring 2023.

The total investment for the project is $76 million, with the Quebec government contributing a $25 million loan. The project will create 110 jobs, according to the company.

The TVA Group subsidiary’s project will enable it to stand out « even more » internationally, according to Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau. In the past, MELS Studios has hosted several major productions, including chapters of the X-Men franchise. The next Transformers movie is shooting this summer in Montreal.

Péladeau insisted that local cultural productions would also benefit from the new facility, adding that the studio ensures foreign revenues and to showcase talent and maintain an industry of Quebec producers.

STUDIO SHORTAGE

The film industry is cramped in Montreal.

According to a report published last May by the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ), there is a shortage of nearly 400,000 square feet of studio space.

With the addition of MELS 4, which will be 160,000 square feet, the company is filling part of the gap.

Carrier admitted that he has had to turn down contracts because of the lack of space, representing missed opportunities of « tens of millions of dollars, not only for MELS, but also for the Quebec economy. »

« Montreal’s expertise is in high demand, » said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who was present at the announcement.

She said she received great testimonials from « Netflix, Disney, HBO and company » during an economic mission to Los Angeles in 2019.

« What stands out is that they love Montreal because of its expertise, knowledge and beauty. We need more space, like MELS 4, » she said.

There is still not enough capacity in Quebec, acknowledged Minister of Finance, the Economy and Innovation Eric Girard.

« It is certain that the government is concerned about fairness and balance, so if other requests come in, we will study them with the same seriousness as we have studied this one, » he said.

Grandé Studios is the second-largest player in the industry. Last May, the company said it had expansion plans that should begin in 2022. Investissement Québec and Bell are minority shareholders in the company.

For its part, MELS will have 400,000 square feet of production space once MELS 4 is completed. The company employs 450 people in Quebec and offers a range of services including studio and equipment rentals, image and sound postproduction, visual effects and a virtual production platform.

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