Tuition fees and accessibility to higher education

Alternative Federal Budget calls for PSE act

In its 2012 Alternative Federal Budget (AFB), the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives states that in cooperation with the provinces, the government should implement a federal PSE act. Modelled after the principles of the Canada Health Act, the PSE act would be accompanied by a dedicated cash transfer with funding earmarked to immediately restore per-capita funding to 1992 levels; over 3 years, reduce tuition fees to 1992 levels; and over 5 years, eliminate deferred maintenance at colleges and universities. The AFB also outlines several actions in relation to financial aid, First Nations students, and university research. CCPA News Release | Alternative Federal Budget 2012 (Academicagroup)

Restoring University Affordability by Rolling Back Tuition in Saskatchewan

This report examines the impact of rising tuition and living costs on the affordability of a university education in Saskatchewan. It concludes that university education in Saskatchewan became more affordable over the past six years as a direct result of the four-year tuition freeze and growing after-tax income. However, since the lifting of the tuition freeze in 2009, tuition has increased by 10.6 per cent, eroding the affordability of a university education for Saskatchewan students. In order to effectively restore a measure of affordability to university education in our province, government should institute a program of managed tuition reductions, phasing these reductions in over the period of several years.

The impact of rising tuition fees on Ontario families

A new CCPA study finds that over the past two decades, Ontario’s system of financing higher education has become more regressive, exploiting already over-stretched families who want to help their children pursue their educational aspirations.

In 1990, a middle income family in Ontario could earn the equivalent of four years of tuition fees in 87 days; it will take 195 days in 2011. The situation is even more dire for low income families who are looking at the equivalent of two years of income for four years of tuition fees in 2011.

By forcing all but the wealthiest families to play priority roulette, assume still more debt, or make the difficult decision that higher education is too great a financial burden to bear, Ontario is hampering its economic and educational potential, and we are all paying the price.

There are alternatives: the study shows how the government of Ontario can maximize investment benefits and create a highly educated populace not overburdened with debt, and in so doing help ensure that university is affordable to students and their families regardless of income.

Click here to read the full report. Click here to read an op-ed based on the report. Click here to see an infographic on the burden of a university education in Ontario.

Canada’s future is in your hands: Vote.

CCPA Executive Director Bruce Campbell’s letter urging Canadians to vote:

Dear Friends,

Today is election day. The posts and links in this bulletin have a single theme: get out and vote. This is no time to be silent. Encourage your friends and neighbours to do the same. Help your preferred local candidate get out the vote.

For those of you under 40, I believe this is the most important election since you have been eligible to vote. The choices about the direction of our country have never been starker.

This has been a campaign of unprecedented fear and smear. Refuse to be intimidated. Vote your values and priorities— the kind of country you want Canada to become. Don’t be swayed by threats from the corporate elite.

To quote from Franklin Delano Roosevelt, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

As you know, our electoral system is flawed. In this election it is causing major uncertainty as to what outcome vote splitting will produce. Voting strategically is a complex decision and in most cases is based on only partial information. If you do choose to vote strategically, be very careful. Be very well informed. Otherwise, it may produce the very result you don’t want.

In my view, the best riding-by-riding information and analysis is produced by Pundits’ Guide to Canadian Federal Elections. However, its analysis does not extend to Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

With all its flaws, politics matters. Voting is one time where you can really make a difference; where the voice of powerful elites in this country has to give way to the voice of all citizens.

Finally, though absolutely essential, voting is just the first step. Once this election is over, stay engaged. Become part of a movement of progressive change. Fight for the values and policies you care about. Apathy is our worst enemy. Intention is not enough. You have to get out there. Make it happen! Make it count!

For inspiration please visit:

• This month’s Hennessy’s Index, which features election jawdropping stats and figures.
• From our election blog, Senior Communications Officer Kerri-Anne Finn on Who Benefits from Low Voter Turnout?
• LeadNow.ca’s video ‘Vote Now Because You Can’ with an appearance from CCPA-BC Director Seth Klein.
• Watch the CCPA’s video on Democracy and the Power of Voting.

On the CCPA federal election blog, research associate David MacDonald takes a look at what the four major national federal parties are saying in their platforms vs. what they actually want to spend money on.

For each party he’s created two wordles or word charts, to illustrate. 

• Click here for the Conservative Party analysis.
• Click here for the New Democratic Party analysis.
• Click here for the Liberal Party analysis.
• Click here for the Green Party analysis.

Right Idea, Wrong Vehicle for Post-Secondary Education Funding

While the education plank of the Liberal platform recognizes the increasing unaffordability of higher education for students and their families, their plan falls unnecessarily short. Unnecessary, because the amount of money promised could actually go a long way to making higher education more universally accessible.

Tuition fees are on average over $5,000 a year, and while this by no means represents the entire cost of higher education, it is identified as the single greatest expense. But because the Liberal plan directs more money—$1 billion—into the RESP system rather than targeting fees directly, the usefulness of this promise is limited at the outset, and made more complicated by the realities of the RESP program.

The take-up of RESPs (start-up grants for low-income families notwithstanding), is largely by middle-upper income Canadians because it is still based on families’ ability to save (meaning that they have money left over after paying the mortgage, utilities and other monthly expenses) and also be eligible for the “matching” government grants. Remember, RESPs are not just a vehicle to save money privately—there’s a significant public financial component as well….

Making it Count

The CCPA has launched a federal election blog to bring you expert analysis on the issues that will—or should—define the election. Making It Count features timely commentary from CCPA staff and research associates, who will be weighing in everything from the economy and federal finances to the social and environmental challenges facing our country.

Click here to visit the site.

Alternative Federal Budget promotes affordable higher education

Produced by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and its member organizations, the 2011 Alternative Federal Budget would create a post-secondary act accompanied by a dedicated cash transfer with funding allocated to immediately restore per-capita funding to 1992 levels; reduce tuition fees to 1992 levels over 3 years; and eliminate deferred maintenance at Canadian post-secondary schools over 5 years. The alternative budget also proposes increasing funding for access to education for Aboriginal learners, and doubles the number of Canada Graduate Scholarships. CFS News Release | Alternative Federal Budget 2011 (Academicagroup)