| Goliath’s in court
Six men charged in connection with a raid on Goliath’s Sauna and Texas Lounge in December have pled not guilty to the charges against them.
Five of the men are charged with operating a common bawdy house, and one is charged with being found in a common bawdy house. All say they plan to fight the charges, which have raised controversy throughout Canada's gay community.
A number of other men charged with being found in the establishment, accepted alternative measures as a way to avoid the criminal justice system.
The case is being closely watched from all over the country, as such raids are rare. Police say they were responding to complaints from the community, but others argue that gay bathhouses are a normally accepted part of gay society and the police raid was wrong.
Health boards fired
The provincial government has officially appointed handpicked board members for all of Alberta's new regional health authorities, after doing away with elected representatives late last year.
Health minister Gary Mar recently named the new board, which, in many cases, includes previously appointed representatives at the expense of elected ones. Prior to the last provincial election, all boards were appointed. The government democratized two-thirds of the board in time for the last election, but scrapped those elections less than two years later.
New Democrat leader Raj Pannu says the appointments are "a sad day for democracy in Alberta.
"The Tories want absolute control over health care. They don't want local democracy to interfere with their privatization plans," Pannu says.
The government says the new board members were picked in consultation with local MLAs. They say the elections were scrapped because they were ineffective and most Albertans don't care about them.
Bridgeland plans
City council has finally approved a plan to redevelop the site of the old General Hospital, even though the plan is being compared to the East Village project that was scrapped in a wave of corruption.
The plan sees the city act as developer on a huge multi-use residential and business project. That worries some members of council because it is similar to the partnership that lead to problems in the East Village.
Supporters of the plan, however, say without the city's involvement, the site wouldn't be developed with all the amenities the community expects. They also say the plan is safer from political influence than the East Village partnership.
Mount Royal
Students are saying goodbye to extra curricular at Mount Royal College instead of their teachers after faculty members began withdrawing voluntary services on Tuesday, March 4.
Classes will continue after contract negotiations between the Mount Royal College Board of Governors and the Mount Royal Faculty Association stalled. According to a statement issued by the college, the board is offering the faculty 9.25 per cent salary increases over two years, and maintains that the terms of the financial settlement are fair and reasonable. Faculty members voted 93.6 per cent in favor for a strike authorization vote on February 27.
For now, volunteer hours put into committee work and extracurricular activities will be held back by faculty members
Education forum
Key players will debate the future of post-secondary education in Alberta on Thursday, March 6, at 7 p.m. in the Cassio meeting room located in MacEwan Student Centre at the U of C.
It is one of many activities students can participate in to voice their thoughts on the differential tuition and tuition hikes. Everyone is invited to attend the public town hall meeting organized by the U of C Students’ Union.
Speaking at the meeting will be representatives from U of C administration, staff, faculty, students and members of the Calgary community. Panellists include Joanne Cuthbertson, Dr. Peggy Patterson, John Baker, Dan Tilleman, and Matt Stambaugh.
The Board of Governors will decide upon a 6.3 per cent tuition increase in all faculties, and differential tuition for targeted facilities on March 21, 2003. |
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