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Issues & Experts Archive > Week of March 3 – 10, 2003
Week of March 3 – 10, 2003
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Mar 03, 2003
A visual pitch for the Olympics…The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is making a four-day visit to view Vancouver-Whistler, as part of its decision-making process to determine who will get the 2010 winter games. Sunny skies are providing optimum conditions for showcasing the mountain and venues, says Peter Williams, director of SFU’s centre for tourism policy and research, who can talk about visit highlights and the potential impact of the games on the city.
Peter Williams, 604.291.3103; peter_williams@sfu.ca
Canada's new immigrant criteria: too selective?...That’s a question SFU economist Don DeVoretz is asking. He’ll focus on Canada’s new immigration policy and its implications at a conference on social responsibility at Harbour Centre March 7-8. The event will target the impact of globalization on immigration as well as the environment. "Immigration is the people aspect to globalization," says DeVoretz, noting that Canada has raised the entry barrier for skilled immigrants, and that applications are down. "We must now ask if Canada is opting out of this part of the globalization equation." DeVoretz, who is working on a micro-simulation model to measure the impact of immigrants on Vancouver’s economy, will look at whether the new policy will lead to an improved performance of immigrants — or just fewer of them.
Don DeVoretz, 604.291.4660; don_devoretz@sfu.ca
The war of words…No missiles have been fired yet. But members of the United Nations Security Council continue to ram each other with rhetoric. SFU trans-Atlantic political expert Lenard Cohen says French President Jacques Chirac’s negative labeling of European countries for supporting the US position has only deepened the council divide. "He is exhibiting arrogant unilateralism by threatening the east Europeans with no entry into the European Union if they oppose France’s position of no war against Iraq," says Cohen. He believes the deepening rift in NATO, the European Union and the Security Council will make any post-war scenario difficult, if it comes to war. He can also elaborate on why he believes the US brief against Iraq and its desire to move in on the country have merit.
Cohen is one of 20 SFU experts on media/pr’s list re: the potential war against Iraq; check our website at http://www.sfu.ca/mediapr/ or call 604.291.3210.
Lenard Cohen, 604.291.4518; lenard_cohen@sfu.ca
Recalling the recall debate…Despite the failure of a recall effort to unseat Delta South MLA Val Roddick, at least six recall campaigns are proceeding against other Liberal MLAs, including Premier Gordon Campbell. SFU political scientist Patrick Smith says it’s a classic case of "a little chicken coming home to roost." Smith notes the Liberals, when in opposition, pushed for the NDP government to make political recalls possible. SFU political expert Kennedy Stewartpredicts that MLAs elected with low victory margins will have something to worry about if organizers eliminate the problem of invalid signatures on recall votes. "Someone like Jeff Bray of Victoria-Beacon Hill would undoubtedly be looking over his shoulder as he gained only 37 percent of the vote in 2001," observes Stewart.
Patrick Smith, 604.291.1544 (h); patrick_smith@sfu.ca
Kennedy Stewart, 604.268.7913; kennedys@sfu.ca
In your dreams…A group of entrepreneurial SFU students hopes to make a few dreams come true on March 6. The annual dream auction is put on by the SFU chapter of Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE). Student Julie Kwan says packages cover such activities as romantic getaways, downtown clubbing, snow-mobiling and even bungee jumping at Whistler. They will be auctioned off by auctioneer Bill Vander Zalm. To view the packages check http://www.dreamauction.tk The event takes place in SFU’s west mall centre, room 3520, with a silent auction at 6 p.m. and a live auction at 7 p.m. Partial proceeds will go to the BC Children’s Hospital cancer program.
Julie Kwan, 604.724.3099; jdkwan@sfu.ca
Peter Williams, 604.291.3103; peter_williams@sfu.ca
Canada's new immigrant criteria: too selective?...That’s a question SFU economist Don DeVoretz is asking. He’ll focus on Canada’s new immigration policy and its implications at a conference on social responsibility at Harbour Centre March 7-8. The event will target the impact of globalization on immigration as well as the environment. "Immigration is the people aspect to globalization," says DeVoretz, noting that Canada has raised the entry barrier for skilled immigrants, and that applications are down. "We must now ask if Canada is opting out of this part of the globalization equation." DeVoretz, who is working on a micro-simulation model to measure the impact of immigrants on Vancouver’s economy, will look at whether the new policy will lead to an improved performance of immigrants — or just fewer of them.
Don DeVoretz, 604.291.4660; don_devoretz@sfu.ca
The war of words…No missiles have been fired yet. But members of the United Nations Security Council continue to ram each other with rhetoric. SFU trans-Atlantic political expert Lenard Cohen says French President Jacques Chirac’s negative labeling of European countries for supporting the US position has only deepened the council divide. "He is exhibiting arrogant unilateralism by threatening the east Europeans with no entry into the European Union if they oppose France’s position of no war against Iraq," says Cohen. He believes the deepening rift in NATO, the European Union and the Security Council will make any post-war scenario difficult, if it comes to war. He can also elaborate on why he believes the US brief against Iraq and its desire to move in on the country have merit.
Cohen is one of 20 SFU experts on media/pr’s list re: the potential war against Iraq; check our website at http://www.sfu.ca/mediapr/ or call 604.291.3210.
Lenard Cohen, 604.291.4518; lenard_cohen@sfu.ca
Recalling the recall debate…Despite the failure of a recall effort to unseat Delta South MLA Val Roddick, at least six recall campaigns are proceeding against other Liberal MLAs, including Premier Gordon Campbell. SFU political scientist Patrick Smith says it’s a classic case of "a little chicken coming home to roost." Smith notes the Liberals, when in opposition, pushed for the NDP government to make political recalls possible. SFU political expert Kennedy Stewartpredicts that MLAs elected with low victory margins will have something to worry about if organizers eliminate the problem of invalid signatures on recall votes. "Someone like Jeff Bray of Victoria-Beacon Hill would undoubtedly be looking over his shoulder as he gained only 37 percent of the vote in 2001," observes Stewart.
Patrick Smith, 604.291.1544 (h); patrick_smith@sfu.ca
Kennedy Stewart, 604.268.7913; kennedys@sfu.ca
In your dreams…A group of entrepreneurial SFU students hopes to make a few dreams come true on March 6. The annual dream auction is put on by the SFU chapter of Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE). Student Julie Kwan says packages cover such activities as romantic getaways, downtown clubbing, snow-mobiling and even bungee jumping at Whistler. They will be auctioned off by auctioneer Bill Vander Zalm. To view the packages check http://www.dreamauction.tk The event takes place in SFU’s west mall centre, room 3520, with a silent auction at 6 p.m. and a live auction at 7 p.m. Partial proceeds will go to the BC Children’s Hospital cancer program.
Julie Kwan, 604.724.3099; jdkwan@sfu.ca