University of Waterloo
Daily Bulletin
[Previous days]
[UWinfo home page]
Tuesday, August 15, 1995
Debtor students may pay for loans through taxes
The Toronto Sun reports yesterday that the federal government is considering forcing ex-students with outstanding payments on their student loans to cough the money up through their income taxes. The paper quotes Human Resources Minister Lloyd Axworthy: "Repayment would be geared to income. If you don't work, you don't pay." The plan could supposedly end the annual $60 million in defaults to the $1 billion Student Loan Program.
Alberta and New Brunswick are interested in the program, and Axworthy is expected to raise the proposal with Ontario Finance Minister Ernie Eves when the two meet tomorrow in Toronto. If provinces accept the scheme, pilot projects would begin.
Similar programs exist in Australia, New Zealand and Chile. In Australia, portions of loans are deducted from taxes once annual income reaches $22,000.
Adds the Sun: "Axworthy recently announced the banks will now be in charge of collecting student loans to cut down on the high level of defaults. If the income tax plan is implemented, there would be less of a role for the banks to collect on delinquent accounts."
Explaining the torn-up walkway
Anyone walking from the direction of Needles Hall and Dana Porter toward the Student Life Centre or the math and computer sciences building in the last few dayswould have undoubtedly noticed the major construction tear-up of the walkway between the earth sciences and chemistry building and the biology 1 building.
Don't worry. What may look like a war-zone is actually a walk replacement of an "area [which] was always considered to be very unsafe due to the large paving stones always shifting creating tripping hazards," says Rudy Molinary of plant operations. Construction began last Friday and is expected to last for a few days still.
Steps on either end of the walkway are also being replaced with a gradual slope to improve building access for students with disabilities. The current ramps on the walkway are being removed since, as Molinary states, "they required some diligent maneuvering to navigate."
Remembering Waterloo loser at Waterloo
Today is the anniversary of the birth of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Born in Corsica in 1769, Napoleon followed up the political groundswell of the French Revolution with a drive to make France ruler of Europe. But Wellington and his British forces would put a stop to Napoleon's conquests at Waterloo, Belgium. Napoleon died in exile on the island of St. Helena in 1821. Napoleon's birthday is a public holiday in France and Corsica.
Other happenings on another hot, humid and hazy day......
-- Not much around here, but today is the anniversary of the first day of Woodstock(1969) on Max Yasgur's alfalfa field near Bethel, N.Y.
-- Speaking of alfalfa fields, today is the opening day of Penn State University's AG Progress Days, at the Larson Agricultural Research Center in Rock Springs, PA. This three-day event provides the public with the latest information on agricultural industries and developments made by Penn State. Over 45,000 people are expected to walk through, taking in over 300 commercial exhibits.
-- Today is also India's Independence Day. In 1947, the country formally gained independence from Britain.
Horacio Oliveira
Information
and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
(519) 888-4567 ext. 5719
hmolivei@nh3adm.uwaterloo.ca
Editor: Chris Redmond,
credmond@uwaterloo.ca