Massive pickets at my uni!

[KrazyHorse]

That's wrong. The government gets 1/3 of its revenue from oil-related revenue. That figure's been quoted in half-a-dozen news stories on a couple of different networks.

Your figures have something they aren't taking into account...

Never mind the fact that even that is 1/6 or so.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Frogger
That's wrong. The government gets 1/3 of its revenue from oil-related revenue. That figure's been quoted in half-a-dozen news stories on a couple of different networks.

You've lived out east too long, my friend. Their propaganda is getting to you. "The only reason Alberta is doing well is because they get soooooooo much money from energy revenue! Yes, that's it!"

[KrazyHorse]

Snooze. Not to mention that this is only public revenue...

Now multiply by 4 or 5 times to see what oil means to the general economy.

I'll trust the CBC+CanWest Global before I trust your figures...

[Asher]

Sorry, I was wrong, for the 2002-2003 year, resource revenue is $3.7B...

http://www.finance.gov.ab.ca/business/budget/index.html

But of course CanWest (which is headed up by none other than one of Chretien's best friends) would know more about this than Alberta's Finance ministry, right?

[Tuberski]

Originally posted by notyoueither
I think it is quite understandable that tuition and pay for TAs be linked somehow. The TAships are there to help people get through their programs, aren't they?

Maybe they are, tuition goes up 40% and pay goes up 10%.

Examples:

Tuition costs 4000 a year. a 40% increase in tuition is $1600

Say pay is 1400 a month or 16800 a year. a 10% raise on that is $1680.

How is that hurting TA's?

Their 10% offsets the 40% increase and they get an extra $80 a year.

Enough for 2 new computer games.

Edit: If they got 40% that would be 6720 a year, all of their tuition would be paid.

ACK!

[Shi Huangdi]

I am not about to sabotage my grade by not going to class to hear material I will be tested on anyways, pickets would not stop from going.

[Asher]

[Asher]

Of course, soaring energy prices are giving Alberta a ~$2B surplus this year, but that doesn't count.

Most of that money is going into a new sustainability fund which will level out revenue streams. Surpluses go into that, deficits come out of it...balanced budget through boom and bust while paying debt as it comes due.

Also interesting, if Alberta had the same tax regime as Quebec, the province would have $9B a year in additional revenue.

Which is amazing.

[notyoueither]

Frogger, we almost screwed things up the last time by planning on oil revenues. Windfalls cannot be used for ordinary, recurring buget items. They are far too unpredictable and the dislocation in government services when the price of oil goes down are not things anybody around here wants to deal with, again.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Asher
They're just greedy.

Well come on, how else are they gonna buy the furs and jewels and pimp-mobiles and live in their penthouse apartments. First off, $20 Canadian is jack ****. Most TAs live pretty poor lives. Greed has nothing to do with it. They want to finish school.

[Asher]

$20CDN is jack ****?
Minimum wage in Alberta is $5.90CDN...

Remember that stuff like health care is "free" here, costs of living are very low compared to most US cities also...

[Shi Huangdi]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara


Well come on, how else are they gonna buy the furs and jewels and pimp-mobiles and live in their penthouse apartments. First off, $20 Canadian is jack ****. Most TAs live pretty poor lives. Greed has nothing to do with it. They want to finish school.

Find another way to do it besides interfering with the education of undergrads.

[David Floyd]

I'd cross the picket lines, definitely. In fact, I'd cross them even if I had no good reason to do so, just to be an ass.

[Asher]

I also like che's stealth implication that only rich people can be greedy.

TAs demanding 40% raises are greedy, plain and simple, whether they're rich or poor.

[KrazyHorse]

Bull****.

TAs and RAs are cheap-ass for the value they provide.

Most bachelor holders in useful subjects can walk into a 50-60k a year job.

TAs only spend 7-10 hours a week on their job responsibilities, but they're also busy doing graduate work (thesis and classes). Most grad students are working or studying 60+ hours a week.