MUN spends over $34K on consultation fees to Alex Usher

A recently obtained access-to-information request reveals that Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) paid Alex Usher $34,500 in consulting fees to be part of the Strategic Planning Facilitation Team to produce a five-year strategic plan for MUN ranging from 2012 to 2026.

The university describes the plan as a “Guiding vision: A beating heart for Newfoundland & Labrador – contributing to a socially resilient, economically prosperous, culturally vibrant, inclusive, healthy, & sustainable province.”

The university issued a request for proposals to engage an expert higher education strategy consultant, and Alex Usher of Higher Education Strategy Associates (HESA) was appointed. In the document, Strategic Plan 2021-2026 Update: What We Have Heard to Date, it states, “Alex quickly became an integral part of the team, playing a key role in guiding us through our strategic planning process.”

Alex Usher is the President of the consulting firm HESA based in Toronto. He is a so-called “expert” in post-secondary strategic planning. Clients have hired him for “projects on student financial aid and access to post-secondary education; rankings, benchmarking and quality measurement in higher education, and development of strategic plans in higher education at the national, provincial, and institutional levels.”

It is questionable that an out-of-province agent was chosen. Additionally, why was an objective consultant not chosen instead of Usher (who has a clear bias)? He has the same views as many of the administrators at MUN in favour of a profit model/privatization of the institution.

MUN Strategic Planning Facilitation Team.

In his May 4th, 2021, blog post, Usher made statements favouring a tuition increase, “after twenty years, the tuition fee freeze must go.” Usher states that it may have made sense in the boom times, but now, with the decline in government funding, “it can only harm these institutions.”

This is just the tip of the iceberg. As Usher states in his blog post, MUN is an institution where HESA does a lot of work.

Matt Barter is a third-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.

MUN President claims over $76K in expenses

A recently obtained access-to-information request (ATIPP) reveals the total expenses that Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) President Vianne Timmons has claimed since taking office in March 2020.

The exact wording of the ATIPP is as follows “Any and all expenses claimed by President Timmons since taking office. This should include journey authorizations, travel, hotels, car rentals, entertainment, per diems, hospitality, catering, etc. Broken down by month would be beneficial.”

The first time includes travel, hosting, supplies, and other. The second table includes moving expenses.

Record created by Financial and Administrative Services to respond to ATIPP Request File #008-12-03-21
Date: May 12 2021

	Date of Claim	Travel	Hosting	Supplies	Other (per employment contract)
		(includes hotels, flights, per diems, car rentals)			(included wellness and personal tax prep)

	March 2020	7890.84
	April 2020	741.31
	May 2020
	June 2020
	July 2020		79.74
	August 2020			172.49
	September 2020	10,595.67	912.53
	October 2020	3,169.07	569.79
	November 2020	1,215.87	91.69
	December 2020
	January 2021	1,614.43	60.22
	February 2021	1,426.05	663.96	68.98	3,554.91	wellness
	March 2021
	April 2021	2,814.44	352.65		962.59	517.50 personal tax prep. 445.90 wellness
	May 2021	1,908.00		97.73	575.00	wellness

		$31,375.68	$2,730.58	$339.20	$5,092.50

Politicians Connecting with Voters in a New Way

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at The Royal St. John’s Regatta 2019.

There is a long history of politicians using new, innovative ways to connect with voters. One of the most powerful media technologies that changed politics forever is Television. During the first Kennedy-Nixon United States Presidential Debate in 1960, the televised debate helped push Kennedy over in public opinion.

It made appearance matter: not only could you listen to presidential candidates debate on the radio or see their pictures in newspapers, but you could also now watch them on TV. Those who listened to the debate on the radio called it a draw, but those who watched on TV felt that Kennedy won. This new form of media caused image projection to be important in securing votes. A more recent example of the importance of appearance in an election in Canada is when Justin Trudeau swept the country in 2015; his wavy hair, good looks, and connection with youth secured him many votes.

Justin Trudeau’s election is a prime example of social media changing the landscape of politics and a new way to build a politician’s brand. Trudeau took thousands of selfies, often in crowds of people, which were shared on social media and allowed voters to feel connected to him.

One of the most recent examples of the impact of social media on how people vote happened during the 2019 federal election. About a month before the election, the New Democratic Party (NDP) looked to social media for a campaign boost because they were strapped for cash. The NDP had to get creative to reach voters and focused their digital budget on targeted ads. The Leader of the NDP, Jagmeet Singh, and his campaign team captured raw moments that went viral. Social media has become the new way that politicians reach people and connect with them.

From the beginning, the NDP had significantly less money than what the other two main parties had in their war chests. The NDP was also down in the polls, with some people even wondering if they would keep official party status after the election or maybe even come close to being wiped out completely.

At a campaign event, Rupi Kaur, a famous Canadian poet and Instagrammer, shared her story regarding feeling lonely in her youth, and the only person who did not write her off was Jagmeet Singh. Endorsements such as these are becoming more common in political campaigns; it is a modern approach that candidates have used to reach people and gain more support. Celebrities have millions of followers on social media, especially on Instagram.

The NDP’s most shared post was the video of Singh’s response to Trudeau’s blackface photos, with over one million views. It struck an emotional chord with the Canadian population, especially those who are directly affected by racism. The NDP’s most viewed post was a video Singh posted on the lip-syncing app, TikTok, of him singing along to the song “Choices” by E-40; this video got over two million views.

Connecting with voters on an emotional level is essential to secure their votes. Despite politicians’ best efforts, people will only vote for them if they feel a strong personal connection and have potent emotions regarding their consideration in voting.

When Singh and other party leaders post raw video footage and glimpses into their personal lives to social media platforms, it attempts to make the voters feel like they know the candidate. This strategy is vital as the Leaders cannot meet everyone in the country. Most people never meet them.

New media technology has indeed changed the way political campaigns are run. While the future of politics is quickly changing, it is exciting to see what innovative tactics campaign teams will use.

Making The Rounds – The Reverend Ron Lee’s Lifetime of Service

Making the Rounds: Ron Lee’s Lifetime of Service is a 2019 film by On the Move Partnership.

Ron Lee is an extraordinary man living an ordinary life. According to the producers of the film who are a part of the On the Move Partnership, Making the Rounds: Ron Lee’s Lifetime of Service (2019) is a story about a life of moving to different places for work, including as a CN train employee, a teacher, and a clergyman. It highlights the role of several means of transportation throughout the history of Newfoundland and Labrador. People live marvellous lives, but after they die, they become forgotten.

I discovered the film at a screening on Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) St. John’s campus. Although I do not have the mobility experiences of Ron, as the son of an Anglican priest, I do know what it is like to move around and live in different communities. All people do not recognize the sacrifices made by those who travel for vocation or work. Ron’s name is familiar throughout the Anglican church in the province and other areas in Atlantic Canada.

On the Move is supported by several organizations, including The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, InnovateNL, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. It is a SafetyNet Centre for Occupational Health & Safety Research project at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). The HSS Film Unit, Digital Research Centre for Qualitative Fieldwork at MUN produce films. Derek Norman is the Coordinator. The film’s director is Sharon Roseman, and the producers are Sharon Roseman and Lesley Butler.

Ron Lee was born in 1934 and was the third of ten children. In the film, Ron states, “In my family, there were eight boys and two girls, a girl at the beginning and it was eight boys, and then there was a girl at the end… so now I’m old as the hills.”

Ron grew up in a small town called Petty Harbour outside of St. John’s. In the film, he speaks about the different transportation methods available back then: “From my earliest memories there, a lot of the men, and back in those days some women, worked in St. John’s, so we had a transportation of getting from Petty Harbour to St. John’s,” says Ron. He says that he can remember construction workers going to St. John’s in a truck, “a rubber truck with a tarpaulin over it.” Then there was the introduction of buses as a means of transportation. They also used more traditional transportation methods such as the traditional fishing boats and a little boat that they referred to as a “Rodney.” Fishing was a big part of the community, and fish would be sold and transported to St. John’s either by truck or boat.

Ron’s first employment was at the Canadian National Railway (CN) in the summer months, and so he has a lot of experience working on trains. In the film, Ron talks in-depth about his experience at CN.

Back in Ron’s day, the government gave students $600 to attend university to participate in teacher training, but you had to commit to teaching for two years. Ron taught in Cox’s Cove and Labrador. In the film, Ron talks about how difficult transportation was around the province, especially to the more isolated towns. In some places, dog teams were the means of transport.

After Ron’s short teaching career, he entered Queen’s College to train to be a clergyman. Ron’s first parish was in the town of Hermitage. Other towns Ron served in include Buchans, Grand Bank, and Gander. After his retirement, he served in PEI, Annapolis Valley, Lewisporte, Pouch Cove, Portugal Cove, and Bell Island.

Throughout his seven years of service on Bell Island, Ron only missed two Sunday services because of the ferry or weather but has more than one story of arriving and having to “fly by the seat of my pants.”

The story of Ron Lee is a fascinating one — he had a great life and a great ministry. The documentary was well-produced, and I would highly recommend it. These stories often get lost when people pass away, so preserving this history is essential.

MUN spends over $2 million on Navigate app

Student Success Collaborative Kickoff with MUN Provost Noreen Golfman on October 10th, 2017.

A recently obtained access-to-information request reveals that Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) spent over $2 million on software and an app called Navigate by American-based company EAB.

The terms of membership for EAB’s Student Success Collaborative – Campus and Mobile (SSC-Campus and Mobile) began on June 30th, 2017 and will end on June 29th, 2022. The letter of agreement was signed by the Senior Director of EAB, a division of The Advisory Board Company and the Provost and Vice-President (Academic) of MUN Noreen Golfman.

MUN paid a one-time project initiation fee of $107,000 USD along with an annual $267,000 USD in service fees.

In addition, MUN also pays $7,500 USD each year to offset travel and other similar administrative expenses for EAB.

Total: $1,479,500 USD

The salary cost information by MUN associated with Navigate is as follows:

2017-18 $3048

2018-19 $80,901

2019-20 $70,330

2020-21 $77,768

Total: $232,047

Converted to USD = $192,287.72

Total amount spent by MUN spent on EAB program: $1,671,787.72 USD

Total amount converted to CAD: $2,017,162.35

Institutions are becoming more dependent on outside services. The purchase of this software appears to be an attempt by MUN administrators to make MUN like universities in the United States and increasingly continue the imposition of the private corporate model.

The university should instead find reasonably priced software systems that are not data mining companies with for-profit motives.

Understandably, the university may need data management software. However, the costs of EAB seem excessively expensive. The EAB company currently providing data software to MUN is for-profit. Companies like EAB are implicated in the age of surveillance capitalism. The university should instead find reasonably priced software systems that are not data mining companies with for-profit motives.

EAB state that they “partner with education leaders, practitioners, and staff to accelerate progress and drive results.” EAB describes itself as data enthusiasts, researchers, and technologists.

They describe their app as “Navigate, our Student Success Management System, is an enterprise-level technology that links administrators, advisors, deans, faculty, other staff, and students in a Coordinated Care Network designed to help community colleges and universities proactively manage student retention and success to deliver a return on education.”

The Navigate app seems pointless as several of its fancy functions do not allow students to do new things. It just changes how things are done, like scheduling an appointment on the app instead of by email. In some cases, the app makes it worse for students who were satisfied and do not want to download and use yet another app. It is forcing students into using technology that tracks them.

The software seems to worsen the issue of students being viewed as mere numbers. It further decreases students having a human face. Students are just numbers that need to be improved to boost the reputations of institutions and so senior administrators can build their resumes.

Administrators at MUN have fought for tuition increases for many years.

EAB states that their Student Success Management software helps universities “go beyond first-year retention to help students graduate in less time.” This statement reinforces the idea that universities act as for-profit businesses that try to get as many students through as fast as possible to increase revenue. Administrators at MUN have fought for tuition increases for many years.

EAB state that they help universities find and enroll “the right students.” They follow that by saying, “In an era where student demographics, behaviours, and even levels of participation in education are fluctuating, it’s harder than ever before to find, engage, and enroll your best-fit students.”

Regarding universities finding “best-fit students,” EAB states, “Apply predictive analytics across your enrollment pipeline to increase class size, grow tuition revenue, and shape your incoming class.”

The EAB software has what they call “smart student profiles” that provide institutions with the “most important, actionable” information on students to maximize time during academic advising conversations.

EAB SSC Student Profile.

The software offers what EAB calls “Predictive Analytics.” They claim that this helps the university understand “both cohort-level and individual student risk.” EAB ingests 8+ years of the university’s historical data.

They have another feature, “Population Health Analytics,” that “track student risk, academic performance, and progress of students in their current term to drive targeted intervention campaigns for distinct student populations.”

Another feature is “Historical Trend Analytics” that EAB states, “Identify longer-term trends of success, risk, and failure within your courses, program migration patterns, and graduation rates to inform schoolwide or program-level initiatives such as course sequencing or program and resource optimization.”

In addition to the software, SSC-Campus and Mobile also comes with training and coaching such as onsite orientation sessions, guided training for academic advisors on functionality and features, and sharing what they call “best practices” and “super-user tips.” It also gives the institution access to over 360+ “best practices from dozens of publications sharing the most innovative student success ideas.” University administrators gain access to EAB’s National meetings in which new student success strategies are shared.

Fish & Chips in Newfoundland

Below is a collection of photos I have taken of fish and chips at different food establishments around Newfoundland:

Annie’s Harbour Restaurant, Twillingate

Bally Haly Golf & Curling Club, St. John’s

Brown’s Restaurant, Whiteway

Chafe’s Landing Restaurant, Petty Harbour

Donovans Irving Big Stop Restaurant, Mount Pearl

Fort Amherst Pub, St. John’s

Granite Bar and Restaurant, St. John’s

Jungle Jim’s Eatery, St. John’s

Kelseys Original Roadhouse, St. John’s

Leo’s Restaurant, St. John’s

Scamper’s Snack Bar, St. John’s

Smitty’s, St. John’s

The Big R Restaurant, St. John’s

The Duke Of Duckworth, St. John’s

The Sheraton Hotel, St. John’s

The Wilds Resort, Holyrood

The Right to Die should be extended to all Canadians

Canadians should have the option to receive all forms of medical care, including assisted dying. In this case, the taboo nature of death could be overcome. As a society, we have become disconnected from the process of dying.

In 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that, “the prohibition on physician-assisted dying infringes upon the right to life, liberty, and security of the person.” People who live with terminal illness and unbearable pain should be allowed the right to die.

In June 2016, Canadian legislation (Bill C-14) established criteria and procedures for the provision of medical assistance in dying (MAID) under certain specified conditions. In doing so, Canada joined Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Colombia in allowing medical assistance in dying. Furthermore, in the United States, the District of Columbia along with six other states allow some forms of medical assistance in dying.

Over 4,000 Canadians have chosen medical assistance to end their lives since the practice became legal in Canada three years ago.

The right to die has changed over the years, as society’s views about death have changed. In the first half of the 20th century, many people died in their home where they were cared for by family members. Death was also a community event. After people died, they were often laid to rest in their homes. Loved ones prepared the body. As the deceased lay in rest, family, friends, and neighbours would visit to support one another and to pay their respects. In many communities, especially in rural areas, family members would build a wooden coffin, and at other times, a local cabinet maker would craft the box. After a period of visiting the body, it would be moved to a place of worship, depending on the family’s religious background. After the ceremony, the person would then be buried in a cemetery.

As death was a local experience that happened within a family’s home, family members and friends were very involved. This meant that death was a part of everyday life, not a mystery. As society became industrialized, concerns grew about public health, specifically about the spreading of disease. As a result, final care of family members was then moved to other places and death would happen elsewhere, such as in a hospital. In addition, the preparation of the dead body and the visitation was also removed from the home due to the increase of funeral parlours in towns and cities across Canada.

With these changes in Canadian culture and society, death and the dying process has become foreign and frightening for many people. Today, many avoid talking about death and treat it as a taboo topic.

In addition to this, many people now have a reluctance to face aging and death. Most would want to live forever or, at least, longer – however, death is inevitable. Many people today also value control over their own existence, and as such, want to live and die free from pain and in a way of their own choosing. By facing the reality of death, talking about it, and treating it as a natural part of our existence as human beings, we can develop and prepare for our own death and the death of those whom we love.

Many people use constitutional arguments to support medically-assisted dying, however, there are also three main arguments in opposition to physician-assisted dying. Firstly, religious opposition: many religions consider human life to be sacred. Secondly, the slippery-slope theory: physician-assisted dying for terminally ill people can lead us down a ‘slippery slope’ as it might be all too easily extended to those who are disabled, mentally ill, or ‘tired’ of life. Finally, there are medico-ethical arguments: the medical codes of ethics (for example, the Hippocratic Oath) which prohibit taking the life of a patient.

Dying in Canada and our ideas, beliefs, and expectations regarding the end of our lives, have evolved substantially and they continue to evolve today from a communal activity to an institutionalized practice removed from everyday life. Some would argue that the legalization of medical assistance in dying means that Canada has moved beyond denying death itself, and that we are now accepting and facing death. Others would argue that medical assistance in dying might simply be a way of avoiding being present for our own deaths. No matter what stance a person takes on medical assistance in dying, the more we talk about it, and the more supports we make for individuals and families involved with the dying process, the more we will create a culture where both living and dying are valued.

MUN spends over $100K on survey software

Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) has a partnership with a company that seems to be in the business of surveillance capitalism. Along with the direct cost, there are also educational and ethical questions surrounding the use of the software. The university seems to proceed as though there are no issues with “experience management” systems.

A recently obtained access-to-information request reveals that MUN spent over $100,000 on software from Qualtrics.

The cost for Qualtrics is between the Provost’s Office and the Office of the Vice-President (Research). The current license started in June 2018 and ends in June 2021.

The following outlines the three-year breakdown of fees cost-shared; these are in U.S. dollars, so the relevant exchange rate applies:

Year 1 $25,500.83

Year 2 $28,500.00

Year 3 $30,000.00

TOTAL $84,000.83

1 United States Dollar equals 1.21 Canadian Dollar so $84,000.83 USD equals $101,839.67 CAN.

The software company defines itself as “Qualtrics, the world’s No. 1 Experience Management (XM) platform and creator of the XM category is changing the way organizations manage and improve the four core experiences of business––customer, employee, product, and brand. Over 13,500 organizations around the world are using Qualtrics to listen, understand, and take action on experience data (X-data™)––the beliefs, emotions, and intentions that tell you why things are happening, and what to do about it. The Qualtrics XM Platform™ is a system of action that helps businesses attract customers who stay longer and buy more, engage employees who build a positive culture, develop breakthrough products people love, and build a brand people are passionate about.”

On November 11th, 2018, one of the world’s largest software companies, SAP (System Analysis Program Development), announced their acquisition of the survey software maker Qualtrics International Inc for $8 million.

Qualtrics competes with SurveyMonkey, which went public in September 2018. Qualtrics was immense and growing faster than SurveyMonkey and was also more profitable. Qualtrics got most of its sales from subscriptions. They also generate revenue from their research in-demand option that allows customers to obtain feedback from a group of respondents. In the first half of 2108, Qualtrics revenue growth was 41.7 percent to $184.2 million compared to SurveyMonkey at $121.2 million in revenue.

In January of 2021, Qualtrics went public just two years after being bought by SAP, and trading began on NASDAQ. Qualtrics shares increased 50% on the first day of trading and closed at $45.50. The company raised $1.55 billion in going public. The shares trading on the Nasdaq index is under the symbol XM.

If you read their promotional materials, one finds a lot of jargon, such as in the document titled “UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.” This was for the fiscal year ended December 31st, 2020

Under the Business Overview section of the document, they discuss experience management, “We have pioneered a new category of software, experience management, or XM, which enables organizations to succeed in today’s experience economy. Our XM Platform helps organizations both design and improve the experiences that turn their customers into fanatics, employees into ambassadors, products into obsessions, and brands into religions.”

“Experience management is the business discipline of finding and fixing experience gaps. These gaps––the difference between what businesses believe is happening and what is actually happening––are where poor experiences live. Left unresolved, experience gaps result in customer churn, employee attrition, failed product launches, and eventually, brand irrelevance.”

By “experience management,” it seems like what they actually do is sell data to third parties.

In their NASDAQ prospectus, they state, “Use of our XM Platform involves the storage, transmission, and processing of data from our customers and their users, employees or other personnel, including certain personal or individually identifying information.”

They state in their prospectus that the market on selling user data and algorithms is currently largely unregulated and that should jurisdictions develop more robust privacy laws, it could cause harm to their revenues.

They state that “Privacy, data protection, and information security concerns, and data collection and transfer restrictions and related domestic or foreign regulations, may limit the use and adoption of our XM Platform and adversely affect our business.”

Furthermore, they state, “As a global software and service provider, we are required to comply with local laws of various countries and jurisdictions. The regulatory frameworks governing the collection, processing, storage, and use of business information, particularly information that includes personal data, are rapidly and continuously evolving across multiple jurisdictions, which may introduce conflicts between compliance obligations or other uncertainties. Any failure or perceived failure to comply with applicable privacy, security, or data protection laws, regulations and/or contractual obligations may adversely affect our business. Such evolving regulations and new laws globally (such as the California Consumer Privacy Act and the EU’s proposed ePrivacy Regulation) regarding data protection and privacy or other standards increasingly aimed at the use of personal information, such as for marketing purposes and the tracking of individuals’ online activities. We may have additional burdens imposed on us due to increasing compliance standards that could restrict the use and adoption of our products and services and make it more challenging and complex to meet customer expectations.”

They then state, “Many foreign countries and governmental bodies, including the EU, where we conduct business, have laws and regulations concerning the collection and use of personal data obtained from their residents or by businesses operating within their jurisdictions. These laws and regulations are often more wide-ranging and more restrictive than those in the United States. Laws and regulations in these jurisdictions apply broadly to the collection, use, storage, disclosure, and security of data that identifies or may be used to identify or locate an individual, such as names, email addresses and Internet Protocol addresses. Further, European data protection laws prohibit the transfer of personal data from the European Economic Area, or EEA, and Switzerland to other countries, including the United States, unless adequate protections are provided for personal data in such recipient countries.”

The nature of the business that Qualtrics is in seems to be what Shoshana Zuboff calls “surveillance capitalism.” She coined the term in 2014. During an interview with The Harvard Gazette on March 4th, 2019, she defines surveillance capitalism as “the unilateral claiming of private human experience as free raw material for translation into behavioral data. These data are then computed and packaged as prediction products and sold into behavioral futures markets — business customers with a commercial interest in knowing what we will do now, soon, and later.”

Zuboff states that part of the initial problem was that “We rushed to the internet expecting empowerment, the democratization of knowledge, and help with real problems, but surveillance capitalism really was just too lucrative to resist.”

In a January 24th, 2020 article in The New York Times, Zuboff states, “These data flows empty into surveillance capitalists’ computational factories, called ‘artificial intelligence,’ where they are manufactured into behavioral predictions that are about us, but they are not for us. Instead, they are sold to business customers in a new kind of market that trades exclusively in human futures. Certainty in human affairs is the lifeblood of these markets, where surveillance capitalists compete on the quality of their predictions. This is a new form of trade that birthed some of the richest and most powerful companies in history.”

She then says, “In the competition for scope, surveillance capitalists want your home and what you say and do within its walls. They want your car, your medical conditions, and the shows you stream; your location as well as all the streets and buildings in your path and all the behavior of all the people in your city. They want your voice and what you eat and what you buy; your children’s play time and their schooling; your brain waves and your bloodstream. Nothing is exempt.”

In 2018, former co-CEO of the Research in Motion company, Jim Balsillie, warned about the economic and democratic risks posed by the foreign companies he said are motivated by “surveillance capitalism.”

Balsillie states, “This is going much faster than we understand it, and we are cascading towards a surveillance state and … it touches all aspects of our sovereign citizenship, well beyond the economy,”

“Surveillance capitalism is the most-powerful market force today, which is why the six most valuable companies are all data-driven” he says.

Balsillie states that the data-harvesting giants are driven by mass surveillance and follow business models that exploit gaps in Canada’s governance laws.

NL Federation of Labour Rejects Recommendation to Increase Tuition Fees

Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour (NLFL)/Facebook.

On May 6th, 2021, The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour (NLFL) issued a media release stating that they are standing in solidarity with the students against the recommendation in the Public Post-Secondary Education Review to increase tuition fees.

NLFL President Mary Shortall raises concerns about the importance of post-secondary education in securing adequate employment in today’s economy. She states that now is the time to improve accessibility to post-secondary education (PSE) to help combat the province’s rising unemployment rate and demographic challenges. Shortall says that now is not the time to increase the costs of PSE.

“We need to make sure that everyone, no matter their background or economic status, is able to obtain the best education possible.”
Mary Shortall

Shortall states that “To achieve economic growth, our Province will not only require an educated and skilled workforce, it will also require an immigration policy that attracts smart, young people, to Newfoundland & Labrador (NL).” She then says that the best way to achieve this is a PSE system that is affordable. Furthermore, Shortall states, “…We need to make sure that everyone, no matter their background or economic status, is able to obtain the best education possible.”

The NLFL raises the point that post-secondary education is increasingly understood to be a prerequisite to gaining meaningful employment across the world. They bring up a recent speech given during a joint session of Congress where USA President Joe Biden announced his plan for free college. They then point to a statement that was in Biden’s campaign platform: “In today’s increasingly globalized and technology-driven economy, 12 years of education is no longer enough for American workers to remain competitive and earn a middle-class income. Roughly 6 in 10 jobs require some education beyond a high school diploma.”

“By lowering the debt burden placed on students, we are creating more consumption to support local business and investing in the future well-being of our province.”
Mary Shortall

The NLFL states that their president Mary Shortall believes that the same arguments can apply to NL all of Canada. They point to Biden’s solution to funding his education plan as an example to follow. Biden stated that he would require wealthy Americans and corporations to pay their fair share of taxes. The NLFL says that “Canada could have instituted a wealth tax to help pay for free college in Canada. Sadly – no such plan exists.”

NLFL President Mary Shortall/SaltWire Network.

The NLFL then points to Western Europe and elsewhere, where many countries are moving to reduce or eliminate post-secondary tuition altogether. They then provide an example “Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador and Venezuela have all recognized the importance of providing no-cost access to PSE.”

Shortall concludes with the statement, “Instead of discussions on student fee increases, let’s discuss how best to lower and eventually eliminate these fees… By lowering the debt burden placed on students, we are creating more consumption to support local business and investing in the future well-being of our province – good for students, good for communities and good for the economy.”

Is the most rational option for youth in Newfoundland and Labrador to move away?

Fort Amherst trail, St. John’s. Ryan Barrett/Twitter.

Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) Political Science student Ryan Barrett took to Twitter on May 8th, 2021, to express his irritation with people saying that the most rational option for youth in Newfoundland and Labrador is to move away. Barrett is originally from the Trinity Bay area but currently resides in St. John’s. He states that “I and many others in my generation want to be part of the solution. We’ve gotten through much worse in the past. This is a great place to live. It’s worth fighting for.”

The Editor-in-Chief of The Independent, Drew Brown, was first to respond. Brown says that he is in complete agreement with Barrett’s tweet and that “there is a future here worth building and defending.”

“…biggest complaint is the dishonesty of government and how young adults do not stand a chance as long as the same ole continues.”
Karen Hanlon

Karen Hanlon states that it is heart-wrenching and that she has a 21-year-old son who loves Newfoundland and who swears he will never leave. She says that “His biggest complaint is the dishonesty of government and how young adults do not stand a chance as long as the same ole continues.”

Barrett responds, stating, “Being 22 myself, I empathize with him a lot. These same old paths keep us in a constant cycle of loss, and Muskrat Falls etc., is just the latest iteration of it. Political apathy is high, but I want to stay optimistic. Things can be better.”

Kelly Hickey states, “Goddess guard thee Newfoundland. I NEVER would have moved away if we didn’t have to.”

Barrett states that “everyone’s life path is uniquely theirs, and I fully support NLers moving away for new opportunities and to explore the world, but writing this place off is wrong. I hope you can visit soon!”

Florence Button states, “I’ve always believed we lose as a province when our youth leave. Our youth are smart and should be part of the consultations of how we can have a better life for all. We have a province with so much to offer, and we all need to put our heads and energies together to make things work.”

“Our youth are smart and should be part of the consultations of how we can have a better life for all.”
Florence Button

Barrett responds that he is in total agreement and that “our culture lives in us.” He then states, “In this new era, people increasingly educated and have greater access to the world through the internet. These new and diverse perspectives are needed to strengthen us.”

Periphery Guy says, “I grew up in Newfoundland and Labrador ingrained with the notion that I had to go away, get a university degree and make a life somewhere else. I often wish I hadn’t.”

Barrett responds that in recent years MUN has been the most appealing and accessible option for Newfoundland and Labrador youths in his experience, and that is what keeps them here. He then states, “That’s why I’m against the massive cuts to MUN’s government funding (30% over six years) that the Greene Report recommends.”

Sophia states that another reason people leave is to escape abuse from individuals or communities that have traumatized them. She says, “It can feel liberating to leave an island and move somewhere less cut off from travel and other communities.”

Barrett states, “There is something liberating about getting out into the world and being yourself, and the anonymity that comes with being in a bigger city is in many ways refreshing. I haven’t travelled much outside, but a year+ of covid just intensifies my desire!”

Randell Caines states his love for the province “I was a rotational worker for years, mostly outside of Canada. I also worked in Fort McMurray. If anyone can afford to live in NL, you will never find a better life. I absolutely love NL, the ocean.”

Barrett states that “being by the ocean is very grounding, and the sea air refreshes me like none other.”

“You are free to leave and then, if you wish, return, without having to justify either choice.”
Geoff Budden

Geoff Budden states, “Do what’s right for you! It may be to stay; it might be to leave; you may leave and return a few times, like many of us have. ‘Doors held ajar in storms’ should mean, among other things, that you are free to leave and then, if you wish, return, without having to justify either choice.”

Krista Hazlie states that she moved away when she was 21 years old because she little choice. She said she stayed away for 13 years and moved back here to raise her daughter. Hazlie states, “Wouldn’t leave, and we need to fix this place now to make it better for the future.”

Gilbert states, “We were very young and graduated with combined 6 figure student loan debt, which at that time was plus interest, don’t do the math it’s terrifying. Going to school was the ‘right’ thing to do, but as soon as you sign those loan papers at 17 or 18 years old, your path is set.”

Gilbert then states that “You have six months to find work that pays enough to make mortgage size payments. Wait and get a foot in the door, not an option. Many did not want to leave plus still can’t come home – and visiting or looking for work at home to ‘you left’ attitudes is brutal. My advice – If you can stay, stay.”

Barrett responds that the “‘you left’ attitude is the kind that will keep us in the past. We should be eager to open our communities and economy to anyone returning or coming for the first time. This is how we can grow.”

Mark Whiffen states, “There’s nothing wrong with leaving. It’s a good thing to live somewhere else, get new experiences, experience different cultures, broaden your horizons. Especially if you are eventually going to bring that back expertise back home, it’s also good if you want to stay.”

“It’s a good thing to live somewhere else, get new experiences, experience different cultures, broaden your horizons.”
Mark Whiffen

Gilbert states that he “suspect we have grown so much more than if we had stayed (every situation is different). My lens and bias would definitely be what felt like student loan exile, really, really missing our families, and wanting to be home to help more, especially as our families get older.”

Melissa Jenkins states that she heard the saying that we should not work to live, but unfortunately, that is how it is for a lot of young people here. She then states, “it’s also not even an option for many others, who will continue to struggle. Change needs to happen.”

Randell Caines states that “There should be more good-paying jobs here for people who do want to stay home. My experience in Fort McMurray, people, are also working to live. That’s all they know. Get up at 4:30 am, – 38 in winter, work all day, go to bed at 9 pm. Repeat for 40 years.”

A Twitter user responds to Caines, stating, “Work all day, go to bed and repeat but then vacation time arrives and the whole world is available to them. I suspect per capita; Fort McMurrians are some of the most travelled folks in NA. Not short 2-week excursions either. How many Can’s can go south on six days off… regularly?”

Caines then states that “Yes, there is money there that’s why people go there. Not many people I knew go for vacations every six days either. I worked offshore for years. We went on regular vacations. The point is, people in Fort Mac work Hard, play hard, drink hard. Poor lifestyle. Not great to raise kids.”

Melissa Jenkins states, “Just for comparison, I haven’t taken a vacation off the island in 7 years because I don’t have any disposable income. And I’m in my mid-30s. We are now saving for a down payment for a house but still pay rent monthly. Can’t get ahead.”

A Twitter user responds to Jenkins stating, “I would tell young coworkers who are just out of school to apply themselves, and they could possibly make 200k in two years. Biggest smiles shown in two years. The world theirs! The hardest part for east coast young – leaving Mom.”

Jenkins responds, “Not sure what industries you are referring to, but I don’t know ANY new graduates who make that kind of money in 5 years, let alone 2. Plus, what about those who have limitations and can’t get to post-secondary?”

Janet Howell Pye states, “When my husband and I moved back home after post-secondary, many many folks said to us ‘it’s time for you to leave now’ and ‘go do something else.’ Well, we’ve been home now for 21 years and thankfully employed the full time, and I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”

Jody O’Brien states that “NL is not the best place in the world to live. Neither is wherever someone is moving to. You can make a life anywhere. The key is not to find the best place; find the place best for you.”

Jason M. says that “doesn’t work when the person to fight is ourselves. If you’re under 30 and don’t have a family, get out while the getting is good. This place will be a money sinkhole for 50 years because of this. Don’t sentence your children to loving this place as ‘home’”.

A Twitter user states that their son moved to NL and loves it there. Their son lives in the province for three years now and has a good job in his field. Their son spends all his free time hiking and exploring. The user then states, “He’s planning to stay. We had to leave to find work in the late ’80s. I am glad he’s made his way there. We plan to spend a lot of our retirement in NL.”

Carol Miller states that “Unfortunately it’s the truth, I know many youths that left here to prosper, missed home and came back, only to struggle again. Went back to the mainland and flourished again. Yes, it’s a beautiful place to live, and we all live it, but when it doesn’t love you back, the relationship is X.”

Randy Gillespie states that “Before you know it, the pandemic will be over; the price of oil will be back in the stratosphere, and our government will be back to spending like a drunken sailor. And the cycle will begin again.”

Derrick Walsh says that “It is so unfair to be passing this burden onto our younger generations who don’t deserve this just starting out in life. All because of previous governments’ blunders and stupidity. No wonder they’re planning on hightailing it out of here when education finished. Very sad indeed.”

“It is so unfair to be passing this burden onto our younger generations who don’t deserve this just starting out in life.”
Derrick Walsh

Cyril Tapper states that “Those of us who go away go away because we had no choice, not because we would ever wanting to give up on our province. I agree with you that people need to give it up because it’s time for people to pitch in and help the province.”

A Twitter user states, “Especially now with so many work-at-home opportunities! And for those of us from away and slowly making our way east to NS NB NL, we want that beauty!”

Janet Headge states, “I’m 65 & retired, but I have family in AB [Alberta], two working people struggling to afford $400,000 townhouses with 20 x 30 yards. I lived in AB myself for nearly four years. Yes, those in housing markets early ‘struck it rich’ because they could cash out & move away! It’s a big trade-off.”

A Twitter user states that “Canadians, in general, cannot accept status quo while the rest of world charges ahead. Industry has always driven Canada. More industry in provinces or keep kids moving away.”

Ian Robbins states that “you are the solution, my friend. It’s just like those who claim they will not have children due to climate change. Those kinds of quitters never saved anything; we don’t need them.”

Derek Montague states, “Can’t argue with what works though. I moved to Halifax in 2018. Best decision of my life. A lot of people are considering a move right now, and I can’t recommend Halifax enough.”

Barrett responds, “Everyone’s path is different, and I have no bones against people moving away for opportunities. Individual choice matters most. My main point is that despite it all, this is a great place to live.”

Derek Montague then states, “You’re right; everyone is different, that’s for sure. But I’ve long argued that, even without NL’s financial woes, it’s going to be hard to retain youth. A big problem facing NL is the lopsidedness of rural vs urban. NL needs more cities outside the Avalon.”