U-Pass: SFUO, CUSA, GSAÉD, GSA failing students

Image credit: Drives in Circles - http://drivesincircles.blogspot.com/2011/10/count-on-us.html

Wow, it's been over a month since my last post!? It's been busy as I'm sure all of you starving students can attest to! Anyways, I finally got my hands on a copy of this document, entitled Evaluating the Costs and Benefits of the U-Pass Program: An Analysis, (credit to people @ uOleaks.com) produced by the University of Ottawa Graduate Students' Association (GSAÉD), the Carleton University Graduate Students' Association (GSA), the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) and the Carlteton University Students' Association (CUSA) which was presented to Mayor Jim Watson and Transit Commission Chair Diane Deans at an October 7, 2011 meeting. Unfortunately, I only became aware this afternoon that representatives from all four student unions were appearing before the City of Ottawa's Transit Commission this morning (and no, not thanks to any communication from Paige Galette).

From the article in the last link which appeared in the Ottawa Citizen, it looks as though our student representatives were literally laughed at during the Transit Commission meeting:

Gloucester-South Nepean Councillor Steve Desroches asked why he should take the word of two graduate-student statisticians who did the student unions’ calculations over that of the city’s own treasurer. Cumberland Councillor Stephen Blais pointedly laughed at the idea that students in farther-flung suburbs might walk or bike to downtown campuses. Knoxdale-Merivale Councillor Keith Egli questioned the idea that a typical trip to Carleton from his ward could take 30 minutes longer than it used to when the whole voyage is only supposed to be 31 minutes according to OC Transpo’s online trip planner.

Sounds like it was a pretty pathetic performance by our student "leaders". Although, in principle, I support the idea of having a U-Pass that is affordable for students, I will never support a U-Pass which is FORCED upon students regardless of where you reside. Personally, I barely have to walk 5 minutes to get to campus. Yes, I do pay more for this convenience. However, I also am forced to pay nearly $300 extra for a U-Pass that I would otherwise not purchase in the first place. 

And to make things more interesting, Charlie Taylor prepared this document that purportedly points to many problems with the document produced by the student unions. What is quite amazing here is the fact that Mr. Taylor is a former provincial Green Party candidate. However, he reportedly is very much against the U-Pass program. As a former City of Ottawa mayoral candidate in the last municipal elections, Taylor staged a protest against "an unethical $290/year tax on walkers and cyclists." He was also interviewed by the Public Transit in Ottawa blog back in July 2010.

The Transit Commission voted in favour of increasing the price of the U-Pass to $180/semester or $360/academic year. All 4 student unions have committed to holding a referendum on the future of the U-Pass in the spring. If students cannot opt out of this expensive venture, then it should not continue.

UPDATE

Boy, somebody looks pretty pissed!