Drop Fees - End Poverty

Last Thursday, November 5th was a good day for a demonstration. The weather was shifty, from sun, to rain, to cloud, to hail and back again. I guess one could argue it was symbolic since the students of Toronto and social justice networks marched despite the constantly changing and challenging weather.

This year the CFS (Canadian Federation of Students) has began a campaign of "Drop Fees for a Poverty Free Ontario"; rather than simply doing the singular "Drop Fees" campaign that it's been doing for years, this time they have opted for a more holistic approach, tying issues of lack of access to education to poverty issues. Having grown up in the general Jane & Finch area, I've seen so much potential in people who could not pursue their gifts and talents in the way they could have because of their economic situation. Through easily accessible education society as a whole can benefit greatly.

At York University itself the YFS (York Federation of Students) enjoys extremely high support, having won a general election last year of a nearly 2 to 1 difference againts a rival, more right-wing slate, the YFS is sure to play a pivotal role in the forming student movement. Helping to mobilize York students, I have heard many diverse viewpoints on this issue. When people doubt I always recall the situation that took place a few years ago in France when the then right-wing government attempted to enact legislation that discriminated directly against youths and students. Students proceeded to take to the streets and occupied them for days until the government had to retract that offending legislation. This example, where a student movement was allowed to grow free of apathy and complacency, shows how potent and useful a strong student movement really is.

http://www.dropfees.ca