Caring For SchoolingThe past seven years have not been good ones for public education in Ontario. The ultimate goal of the provincial government’s education reforms is to dismantle the public education system in favour of a private, for-profit system. This was made clear by former finance minister Jim Flaherty’s legislated proposal to grant a tax break to parents of students attending private schools.On top of the changes to education, Ontarians have seen poverty skyrocket, public services like health care attacked, unenforced environmental regulations leading to tragedies like Walkerton, further assaults on the rights of Aboriginals, and highly regressive labour legislation.Ontario badly needs a regime change. For this reason, the University of Toronto Student Teachers’ Union endorses the Canadian Federation of Students. While SAC’s external department has engaged itself in several minor campaigns, it does not have the ability or resources to undertake major research or effect any significant change. A vote for the CFS will be a step to driving the Tories out of Queen’s Park and undoing the damage to our education system and our province.Ayobami OjoawaStudent Teachers’ Union, PresidentJarrod E. BakerStudent Teachers’ Union, Vice-PresidentDavid BanerjeeStudent Teachers’ Union, External CoordinatorCarleton Favours SolidarityI am writing on behalf of the over 17,000 undergraduate students at Carleton University to encourage you to vote to join the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS). Now more than ever, we need a united student voice in Ontario and across Canada to take on the many challenges posed for post-secondary education.By saying yes to membership in the CFS, you will join the fight against the Ontario government’s refusal to provide adequate financial resources to our university system. This is the root cause of soaring tuition fees, faculty shortages, inadequate classroom spaces and burgeoning student debt. We have seen the provincial governments allow for-profit corporations to sell university education at prices well above those of publicly funded universities. Under trade agreements like the GATS and FTAA, these companies could sue governments for profit losses if they deem that public policy to maintain access to places of higher learning has hampered their access to the “student market.”By saying yes to membership in the CFS, you will enjoy the benefits of the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) which gives a 25 per cent discount on Greyhound Bus Line, a 35 per cent discount on Via Rail, and up to a 45 per cent discount on students’ air travel with Air Canada along with over 3,000 discounts across the world for cafés, restaurants, hostels, hotels, car rental agencies, etc. Non-members of the Federation pay $16 for this card. You will also have access to the Student Saver Card, which gives members over 3,500 student discounts across the country.By saying yes to membership in the CFS, the 35,000 undergraduate students at the University of Toronto will join the Graduate Students at the University of Toronto, all students at Carleton University and over 70 other students’ unions around the country in one united voice that says “education is a right” for all those with the desire and ability, not a commodity to be sold to the highest bidder. We look forward to working with you as part of thefederation in the months and years ahead.In solidarity,Joseph Zangar Bright, Jr. Carleton University Students’ Association