2 THE DAILY VOICE, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012 EDITOR CLAYTON PATERSON ews & features APA YELLS ec [et os canal bass jobs and BC FEDERATION O MICHAEL LETENDRE photo Convention delegates joined striking workers from B.C.’s public sector for a public rally yesterday. They marched from the Vancouver Convention Centre to the Vancouver Art Gallery. B.C. needs more training: Dix Quality of life being undermined by costly post-secondary education ADRIAN DIX Leader of the B.C. NDP 66 8&8 per cent of the jobs in the future re- quire post- secondary education By MICHAEL LETENDRE ritish Columbia is under-educat- ed and it is affecting our quality of life, said B.C. NDP Leader Adrian Dix. Dix spoke to a crowd of about 1,500 union members at the BC Federation of Labour convention. His message was that the people of B.C. need more train- ing and more education. “Eighty-eight per cent of the jobs in the future require post-secondary edu- cation, and they are principally the good jobs. And we are nowhere near that level of education,” Dix said. Dix also spoke on the need for more apprenticeship programs for trade workers. “We need to take steps now to address that. There needs to be more training spaces and unions need to be- come part of that process.” Dix also addressed the rising cost of post-secondary education. “T think it’s wrong in an economy to get so many jobs say that you have to have post-secondary education in an economy and then to preclude people from going for economic reasons,” he said. He argued that post-secondary edu- cation should be a realistic option for everyone. The NDP’s plan for helping B.C. stu- dents would be paid for by reinstating a minimum tax on financial institutions. “T believe nobody should be denied that right, because they don’t have enough money.” B.C. Government and Service Em- ployees’ Union member Glenda Mikir- ka said after the speech she was im- pressed with the lack of mud slinging by Dix. “You win by what you do, not by what you say,” she said. Mikirka said that she is excited by what is in store for B.C. workers. “It’s good to see that the people might have a voice again,” she said. After the convention, union dele- gates joined striking union workers from across B.C.’s public sector for a rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The crowd chanted “So-so-so- solidarity” as they marched up Burrard Street. At the rally, labour leaders spoke to the crowd of hundreds, among them BCGEU president Darryl Walker. Walker spoke about his dissatisfac- tion with the current leadership in the B.C. government, saying “They know we're coming after them.” After the rally, Hospital Employees’ Union, member Jim (Crusty) Kelly said he thought the rally was a success, and he expects changes to come in the province. “It’s about time we get a right to col- lective bargaining,” said Kelly. “Let’s put the people in this province back to work.” Combating gang activity In the Lower Mainland Surrey Safe Schools program looks into why kids join gangs and what can be done to solve the problem By KEVIN HAMPSON week when Sukh Dhak and his bodyguard Thomas Mantel were gunned down Monday at the Executive Hotel in Burnaby. Youths who get involved in gangs in the Lower Mainland are often from wealthy families and are accustomed to being pampered and not having to work for rewards, according to Rob Rai, director of the Surrey Safe Schools program. “Google Clayton Rouche. Google the Bacon brothers. Their parents were small business owners,” Rai said. Rai said that by contrast, gangs in the United States attract youths be- cause of a lack of economic opportuni- ties. In the Lower Mainland, much of the problem comes down to parenting, Rai said. “These individuals have been given everything they wanted and become accustomed to getting instant gratifica- tion,” he said. Rai added that when their class- mates begin plotting a career path, these kids realize that their C- average won’t get them anywhere and become disillusioned and frustrated. Rai said that a major problem facing the program is that kids in the Lower Mainland often regard crime positive- ly. “There’s a badge of honour” at- tached to being in a gang, he said. The guys in his program have a “cool factor” that kids respect, Rai said, add- ing that some of them are former pro- fessional athletes, while others are plain-clothed cops. “What they all have in common is an uncanny ability to connect with kids,” Rai said. Similar programs are in place in schools across Vancouver, according to Kurt Heinrich, Vancouver School Board spokesman. A VPD liaison is posted at every Vancouver secondary school to build rapport with students, help with en- forcement and share information to prevent youth being preyed on. GC: violence made the news this MPs split over NDP's transgender bill Bill C-279 would add protec- tion to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms for people who identi- fy as trans- gendered By ANNIE ELLISON Conservative caucus is split over a private member’s bill in the House of Commons. Bill C-279, put forward by NDP Public Safety and LGBT critic Randall Garri- son, will make discrimination against transgendered people illegal in Cana- da. Executive director of the queer re- source centre Qmunity, Dara Parker, says adverse reactions to the bill are representative of peoples’ limited, bi- nary understanding of gender. Parker says gender-neutral wash- rooms are necessary because standard washrooms can be dangerous spaces for transgendered people. “We're about 20 years behind with F:: the first time ever, the current trans rights compared to the gay rights movement,” she said. Dr. Adrian Edgar is one of only five trans MDs in Canada. “This bill has to pass,” he said. Edgar admits he is lucky that his chosen gen- der identity is congruent with his ap- pearance. That “luck” is much more common for transmen than transwomen, who often face discrimination and isolation because they do not easily blend in with other women. When Edgar began identifying as gender queer and credentials involving trans and LGBT health began to domi- nate his resume, his funding dried up. The main issue for Edgar is that gen- der diversity is not protected under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Free- doms while race, religion, speech, sexu- al orientation and gender are. “Someone could say to my face that they’re transphobic and there’s noth- ing I could do about it,” said Edgar. There is no official recourse for prej- udice of this nature. Because of this dis- crimination, many transgendered peo- ple struggle to find work and resort to high-risk occupations such as prostitu- tion. New Westminster Liberal MLA can- didate Hector Bremner supports the bill. “It’s a common sense policy piece and I hope all the parties support it,” he said. Bremner participated in the Trans- gender Day of Remembrance last week in honor of January Marie Lapuz, a transgendered woman from New West- minster who was killed in September. STRAIGHT.COM photo Dara Parker says peoples’ binary understanding of gender leads to discrimination.