November 29, 1984 OTTAWA (CUP) — With a little help from oppositidn MPs, Canada’s national student lobby group hopes to speak to Canada’s federal politicians when they meet for economic talks on March 22 and 23. In a letter to prime minister Brian Mulroney, Beth Olley, Canadian Federa- tion of Student chair, urges the federal government to allow students some, repre- sentation at the upcoming economic summit in Regina, March 22 to 23. Olley says CFS wants to impress on the federal and provincial governments that post-secondary education is in a desperate situation and r should be funded adequately. “Continued cutbacks to the funding that is passed on to post-secondary students will damage them to the point of where rebuilding will be a major taks, if not impos- sible,” she writes. “... We are counting on you to ensure that students, through the Canadian Fe- deration of Students, are re- ‘presented at the economic summit and during any dis- cussions that are held on setting national objectives in the area of post-secondary education.” :1 r e CFS’s attempts to make post-secondary education a high priority at the economic summit meetings are being given a boost by opposition MPs, who have frequently pressured the Tories to hear . students’ concerns since the House of Commons began sitting Nov. 5. On Nov. 8, Liberal oppo— sition leader John Turner and MP for Vancouver Quadra asked Mulroney to make post-secondary education “his personal priority" at the summit and allow student re- presentatives to help set the agenda. Replied Mulroney: “I would be delighted to take (Turner’s) suggestion and consult further with stu- dents.” On Nov. 15, the day hundreds of students pro- tested on Parliament Hill and in the rest of Ontario against government underfunding, Liberal MP Jean Lapierre rand Shefford rep said to secretary of state Walter McLean: “The House is aware that the government intends to cut summer jobs, student loans and transfer payments for post-secondary education, and now nearly 1,000 students have been in standing out in the cold, If you’re travelling home for Christmas, Eastern ProVincial’s Air Maritime has incredible new Stand-by Fares that, in some cases, are even cheaper ' than the bus. Maritimes $35 One way! Travel between any two Air Maritime cities _in. the maritime provinces tor a Stand-by Fare of just- $35 one way. flewfoundland $40 one way! Between any two points in Newtoundland: $40 one way. These new low rates for Atlantic Canadians from the ' Airline ovatlantic Canada are one more reason to support Eastern Provincial and Air Maritime. BY 5 SAVE! The Netted Gem waiting to communicate a message to the minister and his cabinet colleagues... “I wish to ask the minister how he can justify refusing to meet with Canadian citizens who want to express their concerns to the government and, instead, has chosen _to ignore this demonstration by young people who want to have a say in the debate on their future.” Replied McLean: “I want to assure (Lapierre) that I take very seriously the situation of Canadian stu- dents I will be meeting with the provincial (educa- tion ministers) in the near future and will be beginning dialogue about the future of post-secondary education.” Despite the opposition’s persistence, Olley says Mulroney has not yet re— sponded to her letter, dated Nov: 16. But she has re‘- ceived a letter from finance minister Michael Wilson in which he says he will solicit CFS’S‘ views on his first economic statement tabled in the House Nov. 8. In that statement, Wilson announced that the federal government will slash $85 million from its Summer Works student job creation programme and freeze the amount of money set aside for student loans. Olley says CFS will urge the Tories to restore the funding cuts and pump more money into stu- CFS has date With the feds in March dent aid. The freeze actually re- presents a $5 million cut because inflation is not taken into consideration. CFS representatives, Olley says, will also ensure that employment and immigration minister Flora MacDonald is made aware that about 20,000 to 30,000 jobs will be lost as a result of the cut. CFS pians to meet with MacDonald within two weeks for some intense lobbying. Short story contest is memorial to Sentner Carl Sentner was a direc- tor and producer of television at CBCT TV in Charlotte— town. But his real love was writing. He never stopped writing and dreaming of the day when he could devote all hist time to it. Carl died suddenly on April 11, 1984, at the age of 44, He excelled in the short story. As a fitting memorial, his family, friends, and colleagues have set up this annual competition to help other aspiring writers. The competition is open to P.E.I. residents only. THlS SURE BEATS HITCH‘HIKING HOME. .. Canadidates are asked to submit a short story (fiction) that is original and unpub- lished, 2500 to 4000 words in length, or about 15 to 20 minutes. Entries must be typed, double-spaced, and include name and address. Entries will not be returned unless a stamped, self- addressed envelope is in- cluded. The winner will receive a cash price of $300, and have the work published and per- formed on CBC radio. The award will be made on April 11, 1985, and entries should arrive at CBCT by February 24, 1985. The jurors are Kennedy Wells, journalist; Reshard 0001, author and UPEI professor; and Martin Dorrell, executive producer, radio, CBCT. Maureen Forrester to speak tonight Maureen Ferrester, inter- nationally known singer, is to speak tonight in Charlotte- town on “Women in the Arts: A Personal View". Ms. Forrester is now chair of the Canada Council, and her visit is the third in the Voices of Women lecture series sponsored by the UPEI Wome‘n’s Studies Group, the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women, and the Canadian Congress on Learning Op- portunities for Women. Admission to the lecture is free; it will take place at 8 p.m. in the Coles Building, corner of Richmond and Church. Funding for the Lecture Series is provided by the Secretary of State.