Volume 25, No. 10 Editor: Bob Rupert January, 1995. CUASA'S POSITION ON THE NATIONAL STUDENT DAY OF ACTION The Canadian Federation of Students has declared January 25, 1995 as a National Student Day of Action in protest of the Liberal government's plans to change the system of post-secondary education funding. Lloyd Axworthy publicly informed student at the November 16, 1994 demonstration on Parliament Hill that the total amount of federal support for post- secondary education would not be reduced. Other sources contradict this. For example, a Treasury Board memorandum leaked to the Toronto Starsuggests that there is now a fixed program in the Finance Department for the abolition of transfer payments to the provinces in respect of post-secondary education which now total $2.6 billion. Groups with agendae as diverse as the Ontario Ministry of Education and Training, AUCC, OCUFA, CAUT and the CFS all oppose the Axworthy proposals to alter post-secondary education funding. David Cooke, the Ontario Minister of Education and Training estimates that the Axworthy plan will remove a sum equal to the entire budgets of the University of Toronto, Queens and McMaster form the financial resources available for higher education in Ontario. To compensate for this, tuition may increase to as much as $8,000 per year with no net benefit to the total funding base for universities. Across Canada on January 25th, students in high schools, community colleges, CEGEPs and universities will be demonstrating, holding teach-ins and seminars, as well as organizing a variety of other events. Locally, the Carleton Political Action Committee (CPAC) and the Political Action Committee of the University of Ottawa plan a demonstration to begin at noon on Parliament Hill. This will be followed by a march to the Royal Bank and the Business Council on National Issues at the corner of Sparks and Metcalfe. Prior to the demonstration, there will be rallies of Carleton students and employees at the Bronson and Colonel By entrances to campus. CKCU will present programming examining the assault on social programs, the "debt crisis", and other related topics. Other events featuring speakers on campus may be organized by the Carleton University Students Association. CUASA joins with other professional, public interest and labour groups (including the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, the Ontario Confederation of Faculty Associations, the Canadian Labour Congress, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, the Council of Canadians, Ontario Public Interest Research Group, the Ottawa and District Labour Council and the Public Service Alliance of Canada) who support or endorse the National Student Day of Action. These groups oppose the reduction of post-secondary funding in the context of a larger assault on other social programs. We ask that our membership do their best (within the terms of the Collective Agreement) to accommodate the needs of students who choose to participate in this action. CPAC has asked that participating students not be penalized for their absence from classes or tutorials and for missed tests, examinations or assignment deadlines on the 25th. Members' participation in the demonstrations and rallies, as well as the CKCU programming, is encouraged insofar as it does not interfere with the completion of your duties. For further information on the protest and rallies, call 749-8002. For information on the CKCU programming, contact Karin Jordan at 788-2600 ext. 1622. Enclosed is a button indicating your opposition to the Axworthy reforms to education funding and your support for our lobbying efforts to maintain quality in post-secondary education and availability of a reasonably priced university education for academically qualified students. Be sure to wear it now through January 25th to demonstrate solidarity with the National Student Day of Action. Dennis Forcese and Mark Langer CUASA Political Action Committee