Amber Ruddy (right), Conservative activist and anti-CFS campaigner at the University of Western Ontario.
The stated purpose of this resource is to expose campaigns being run by the Conservatives on Canadian campuses–particularly those which are being run covertly.
Since April 2009, we have been following the Campus Conservatives’ attack against Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) and student unions, which was leaked to the public. It became apparent this Fall that the main target of Conservatives’ attacks was the Canadian Federation of Students, the umbrella organization that facilitates not-for-profit services and campaign initiatives for most of Canada’s student unions. This campaign is being perused so vigorously, in fact, that we simply are not receiving tips on any other aspect of campus Conservatives. Having said this, we’re not too upset; this is clearly an important story as evidenced by the heavy traffic through our site.
Somewhat recently, more evidence has surfaced showing campus Conservatives continue to highly prioritize this campaign. The Ryerson Free Press (RFP) responded to legal threats from Conservatives regarding their previous coverage of ‘Conservative Training Sessions’. In their response they showed more uncovered picture evidence of Conservatives targeting the CFS and PIRGs.
Just days ago another blog has surfaced demonstrating the involvement of campus Conservatives’ drive to pull the Western’s graduate student union out of the CFS. There Eric Merkley, president of the Ontario Progressive Campus Conservative Association (OPCCA), and Amber Ruddy, OPCCA Director of Campus Activism, are directly involved in the anti-CFS campaign.
And in this picture (below), Manitoba campus Conservatives are seen blocking the stairs of the legislature, where the provincial student rally against poverty and tuition fees was to be held. This, reportedly, after the leader of the provincial Conservatives arranged a counter media event to undermine the students’ messaging. Despite all this, the rally looked like a hit.
Show of force: Manitoba campus Conservatives try to block students from rallying at the foot of the Legislative building. -Nov.5.2009
With your help, we’ll continue to keep you up-to-date on campus Conservatives. Keep the information coming, especially if you have some new research angles.
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4 responses so far ↓
Conservative Convert // November 10, 2009 at 8:02 pm |
I gotta say – conservative girls are hot! Sign me up ladies!
Besides, the CFS has done jack shit for me besides take my money and use it to engage in non-student related ideological pontification. I don’t need to pay for that, thanyouverymuchgoodbye.
Mark Edlin // November 10, 2009 at 9:29 pm |
As a student at the University of Manitoba am getting a little nervous about the campus conservatives.
Just this past week Tom Flanagan was at the university spewing his racist hate speech and although the posters said the speech was organized by the politics department I’m sure these Reform Conservatives were behind it.
Also the year they are founded tuition fees jump, and then they show up outside the legislature yelling for higher tuition fees.
I’m sick of these neo-Cons handing out their propaganda and trying to coerce students into joining the coup. They should not be allowed to be a club or recruit alongside other REAL student groups.
I don’t want the Conservatives taking over my campus, as far as I’m concerned Harper should stay in Alberta where he belongs.
What can I do to stop these Reformites from taking over the way the did at Carleton?
Marc // November 11, 2009 at 12:10 am |
Conservatives, aren’t you happy with your minority government? Why are you so hell bent on helping to screw students out of more of their tuition fees!?
Conservative Convert, pulease! Reducing tuition fees is a pragmatic goal in the interests of most people. The only ideologues here are people like you who oppose tuition fee reduction on the basis of free-market theory.
Dean // November 12, 2009 at 11:29 am |
Actually Marc, I oppose dropping tuition fees in favour of spending more on needs-based grants, bursaries and scholarships. This is a better way of making education accessible. If you can’t afford tuition at $6,000 per year, you won’t be able to afford it at $5,000 per year.
This is the approach the Ontario government has used in recent years, and enrolment in the province has continued to rise, despite higher tuition fees. Furthermore, overall post-secondary education funding has gone up 37% in the past four years. Check the Ontario budget, don’t believe the CFS hype.