BUSU

Well, the end of another school year soon approaches….

For some, it means the end of your university career. On behalf of the entire BUSU Council, I would like to congratulate you on your accomplishments, and wish you all the best as you head out to the world for new adventures. Good luck in all your future endeavors!

For the rest of us, we will get a few months away from BU, and return in September ready for another year. But what will that year look like?

One year ago, the provincial government announced in its budget speech that the Tuition Fee Freeze would end this year. The government also announced the creation of a one-man review of post-secondary education in Manitoba. Dr. Ben Levin just completed his “Commission on Tuition Fees and Accessibility” report, and the government released it last Thursday. There are many interesting recommendations that could affect what you will pay next year, should the government implement them.

In his report, Dr. Levin recommends a 5% tuition fee increase per year for the next three years. The province will announce in the next few days, after consulting with stakeholders, what they will allow universities to raise tuition. Is this really the best thing for them to be doing at this time?

The economic condition in Manitoba, and for the whole world, is drastically different than it was one year ago when the government announced the end of the freeze. We have seen scholarship funds hit by the weakened financial markets, meaning less funding available for students. We currently see a net decrease in grants, bursaries and other financial assistance available to students in Manitoba. In response to the economic crisis, we have seen provincial governments across Canada take measures to assist students. In New Brunswick, they implemented a cap on student loan debt, not allowing a student to accumulate more than $26,000 in loans. Dr. Levin recommends a $20,000 student loan cap for Manitoba students in his report (one of the good recommendations). New Brunswick students will also enjoy a tuition fee freeze next year as well, as the government has committed to not allow fees to rise. In Quebec, the province that also committed to eliminating the tuition fee freeze last year, which also boasts the cheapest tuition in Canada, decided to maintain the freeze to assist Quebec students and their families through these uncertain times. In Newfoundland and Labrador, Premier Danny Williams made his commitment to the students by continuing the freeze, increasing the weekly student grant rate (non-repayable), and eliminated the interest on provincial student loans. In Manitoba, the students pay bank prime plus 1.5%. Premier Williams touts the package as the “best student aid package in Canada”. We look forward to continued dialogue with the government regarding Dr. Levin’s recommendations. Education is a priority for a strong majority of Manitobans, as they support affordable and accessible post-secondary education. We hope the provincial government agrees, takes its time with the recommendations, and ensures that students and all Manitobans will continue to benefit from one of the most accessible and affordable post-secondary systems in Canada. Good Luck on your finals! Congratulations again to all the graduates, and if you are returning to BU in the fall, we look forward to working with you and for you next year.