2 THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 12, 2015 EDITOR SARA RABEY tlarge Lt. Col. Harjit Sajjan, the new minister of defence Canada FLICKR photo outh Van MP rising star Political rookie, Harjit Sajjan, 1s set to represent his riding, and Justin Trudeau’s defence portfolio By VINCENT MATAK anada’s new minister of defence will keep local issues on govern- ment’s agenda, expert says. Harjit Sajjan, member of par- liament for the federal riding of Van- couver South, was named minister of defence last Wednesday, less than one month into his first term in Ottawa. Sa- jjan is the first Sikh to be given the de- fense portfolio. Stephen Phillips, a political science instructor at Langara College, said Saj- jan’s “powerful position” on the federal scene will help ensure the federal gov- ernment pays attention to local issues. He said Sajjan’s recent experience in the Canadian military could mean more government empathy for military issues and for veterans. Sajjan served 11 years with the Vancouver Police De- partment and had four operational de- ployments with the Canadian Armed Forces: three in Afghanistan and one in Bosnia. “There’s a lot of attention on the quality of the appointment,” Phillips said. “I can’t think of a defense minis- ter who’s been a military man since General McNaughton and [his role] in the Second World War.” Stewart McGillivray, president of the Vancouver South Federal Liberal Rid- ing Association, said Sajjan’s cabinet position solidifies strong local repre- sentation in Parliament. “It’s really important for people to see themselves in the government, and it’s important for people of the riding and for Vancouverites and British Co- lumbia to have a cabinet with such B.C. strong local repre- sentation,” said McGillivray, who federal helped develop Sa-_ yyInisters jjan’s election cam- paign. HE Justice Minister Sajjan’s appoint- oa Wilson-Ray- ment includes a ould, Vancouver eis Granville position on the cabinet committee gy on agenda and re- sults, which deals with overarching government priori- @ ties. His responsi- bilities also in- clude public security, military intelligence and emergency issues. Sajjan did not respond for comment. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Vancouver South Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities Carla Qualtrough, Delta Source: pm.ge.ca/eng/cabinet LSU info Is hard to come by online Financial records and meeting minutes available only by requests and in person, no notes allowed By KEVIN UNDERHILL Despite a 10 day wait, the Langara Students’ Union allowed The Voice to view, in the LSU office, financial audits and budget information. The records show summarized accounts of the bod- ies spending and the auditor reported all was in order. B.C. student advocacy groups such as the Kwantlen Student Association and University of Victoria Students’ Society have information such as meet- ing minutes and financial statements posted on their website. Bronté Ren- wick-Shields, spokesperson and chair of the UVSS said, the society keeps cop- ies of minutes and financial statements in the office for anyone to take at any time, adding student governments have a duty to be transparent with their electorate. Langara Students’ Union media spokesperson Jared Braverman said via email, the union is transpar- ent with its mem- bers by posting lots of information to its website and on social media, “be it the cancella- tion of elections, or LSU events.” “Many students BRONTE RENWICK- . + SHIELDS get information by Spokesperson for coming in and pysg speaking with staff at the front desk or looking at the notice boards,” Braver- man said. According to article 13 of the LSU by- laws, members are allowed to look over union records, but must provide 48 hours notice and must be supervised by an LSU staff or board member “to ensure that records are not reproduced or noted in any way.” Though members must provide no- tice to request such documents, LSU bylaws do not specify a time by which they must be provided. Meeting minutes are also only avail- able subject to an article 13 request. STEPHAN REES photo A small group gathering at the Garden City Lands in Richmond, B.C. on International Day of Climate Action Richmond begins tilling the soil 66 Some peo- ple who’ve finished school are looking for farmland. We’ve set aside farm- land for students where they can farm ... until they find a place for themselves HAROLD STEVES RICHMOND CITY COUNCILLOR The city will be turning a large tract of unused land into a way for scientists to study agriculture By ALEX HOEGLER fter years of little usage, the Gar- A City Lands that sit in the eart of Richmond will be trans- formed into something Canada hasn’t seen before. Kwantlen Polytechnic University will be running a research lab farm on the Garden City Lands, in partnership with the City of Richmond. The university will be creating a minimum of eight hectares on the lands to be used for instructors to help students with farming skills. Students and agricultural scientists will re- search skills such as crop producing and managing organic soils. “This farm will directly support our applied research work in small-scale agriculture,” said Kent Mullinix, direc- tor of institute for sustainable food sys- tems at Kwantlen. The farming schoo] falls in line with the regional food system action plan put forward by staff for the Metro Van- couver planning committee of the re- gional growth strategy, which looks at expanding regional food systems, food security and production. “We are developing a world-class, small-scale alternate market research and teaching farm (to extend our) under- graduate teaching program,”Mullinix said. The Garden City Lands are, by law, to be used for agriculture, since they are considered part of the Agricultural Land Reserve. Long-time cattle farmer and Rich- mond Coun. Harold Steves said that in 2006, delegates from the United Na- tions approached fellow Coun. Chak Au, then school board trustee, about a farming school in Richmond, which led to an agreement by Au, Mayor Malcolm Brodie and then KPU President Skip Triplett. Steves also said that the United Na- tions delegates told him that a farming school on the Garden City Lands would be “an international training example.” Given the limited land available in Richmond, Steves also said how it’s critical to make sure there is enough farmland available for students when they graduate “Some people who’ve finished school are looking for farmland. We’ve set aside farmland for students where they can farm ... until they find a place for themselves,” Steves said. Mullinix also said how farming schools are incredibly crucial to the fu- ture of farming. “We’re the only university in Canada doing this...community-linked commu- nity farming (and) food systems, it is going to be increasingly importantlin the future].” KPU hopes to have the research farming operating this spring. “We’re out to feed the world. It was their (the UN’s) idea. We said yes and we're ready for it,” Steves said.