NANAIMO—The Vancouver Island University Students’ Union will be holding a classroom speaking blitz tomorrow as part of a day of campus events throughout Vancouver Island. The event is part of the Education Shouldn’t be a Debt Sentence campaign. Students at UVic, Camosun College, Vancouver Island University, and North Island College will be gathering signatures on the provincial petition to reduce student debt at the four public colleges and universities across Vancouver Island.

The events come on the heels of last week’s government report on the public consultations held for the 2010 BC budget. The report recommended that the government address BC’s high student loan interest rates and inadequate funding for universities and colleges.

“We’re building pressure on the government right up to the release of the 2010 BC budget,” said Mikael Jensen, Chairperson for VIUSU, “This government must commit to a plan to reduce student debt in its upcoming budget.”

At VIU, the Vancouver Island University Students’ Union has organised the following:

WHAT: Classroom Speaking Blitz

WHEN:  8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Wednesday, November 18, 2009

WHERE: Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo Campus

WHO: Representatives of the Vancouver Island Students’ Union

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VICTORIA—The Camosun College Student Society (CCSS) will be hosting a free soup kitchen for students tomorrow as part of a day of campus events throughout Vancouver Island for the Education Shouldn't be a Debt Sentence campaign. Students at UVic, Camosun College, Vancouver Island University, and North Island College will be gathering signatures on the provincial petition to reduce student debt at the events.

The events come on the heels of last week's government report on the public consultations held for the 2010 BC budget. The report recommended that the government address BC's high student loan interest rates and inadequate funding for universities and colleges.

"Camosun Students are calling on the government to take concrete action in the 2010 BC Budget  to reduce student debt and make education affordable", said CCSS External Executive Matteus Clement, "The government needs to realise that students are really suffering and help now."

WHAT: Soup Kitchen for Student Debt

WHEN: 11am - 12pm, Wednesday November 18, 2009

WHERE: Outside the Fisher Building, Lansdowne Campus

WHO: CCSS & Canadian Federation of Students representatives  

The Camosun College Student Society represents 9,000 students at the Lansdowne and Interurban Campuses of Camosun College.

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VANCOUVER—Students were pleased to learn that the Report on the Budget 2010 Consultations published today by the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services singled out the province’s high student loan interest rates as an area for further investigation.

“BC charges the highest interest rates on student loans in the country,” said Shamus Reid, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-British Columbia. “Compound interest adds thousands of dollars to a student’s loan repayment, especially for those from lower-income backgrounds who take out larger loans.”

The BC government charges the prime interest rate plus an additional 2.5%. On a $25,000 student loan repaid over the standard ten-year period, that is an additional $6,454.30, or 26% of the principle.

Although the Federation proposed eliminating the interest charged on student loans and welcomes the committee recommendation, the committee also heard from students and educators across the province about the need for urgent action to reduce student debt accumulation.

“Record high tuition fees and record student debt demands action from the government in the next budget,”said Reid.“Core funding increases, tuition fee reductions, and an up-front student grant program are critical to reducing the need to take on debt in the first place.”

The Canadian Federation of Students-British Columbia is BC’s provincial student organization, representing 150,000 university and college students at all levels of post-secondary education in BC. It is non-partisan and affiliated with Canada’s largest national student organization, the Canadian Federation of Students.

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VICTORIA--Students from across BC launched a campaign today to mobilize support for reducing student debt. A new campaign by the Canadian Federation of Students-BC seeks to reverse recent trends making education less affordable.

Tuition fees in BC are nearly $5,000 per year on average, yet the provincial government offers the least non-repayable student assistance in Canada.

"High tuition fees and paltry student aid make education in BC a debt sentence," said Shamus Reid, CFS-BC Chairperson. "Students and our families need relief."

Tuition fees have more than doubled in BC since 2001-far faster than the rate of inflation. The elimination of the provincial grants program in 2004 accelerated BC families' student debt accumulation to the point where average debt upon the graduation of a four-year program exceeds $27,000.

"Communities from Prince George to Victoria are feeling the squeeze of the recession. An educated workforce is going to be required for the recovery, but that can't happen if university and college isn't affordable," said Cindy Oliver, President of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC.

"Right now this government thinks that if you get in the front door of a university or college but borrow $10,000 a year to do it, then that's a success story," said Reid. "This campaign is about flagging the dangers of mortgaging the future and articulating realistic alternatives to life-long student debt."

The Canadian Federation of Students-BC's campaign calls for the provincial government to roll back tuition fees, establish a grants program, eliminate interest on student loans, and restore funding to universities and colleges.

The Canadian Federation of Students-British Columbia is BC's provincial student organisation, representing over 150,000 university and college students in the province. The CFS-BC is the provincial affiliate of the Canadian Federation of Students, an alliance of more than 80 university and college students' unions and Canada's largest student organisation, with a combined membership of over one-half million students.

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VICTORIA—The Canadian Federation of Students released its Education Action Plan today; a blueprint for post-secondary education in Canada.

"It is time for big thinking," said Katherine Giroux-Bougard, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "To excel in the economy of tomorrow requires leadership from the government today."

The Plan was created in advance of meetings with the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Diane Finley, the Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty, and other elected officials. The Plan contains recommendations to increase accessibility to and the quality of colleges and universities, reduce student debt, build research capacity, increase innovation, and ensure access to higher education for Aboriginal peoples.

"Canada's Education Action Plan is a roadmap to a better future for all Canadians," said Giroux-Bougard. "Students and their families are bearing the brunt of both an economic recession and record high tuition fees. We need to act now, they can not afford for us to wait."

Released today, the Plan will be circulated to Members of Parliament and the Senate by Federation representatives.

The document is available for download here.

Founded in 1981, the Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's largest student organisation, uniting more that one-half million students in all ten provinces.

“Borrowing beyond your means is never a wise strategy, yet that is precisely what thousands of BC families are forced to do every year to afford this government’s massive tuition fee increases,” said Shamus Reid, CFS-BC Chairperson.

In a throne speech riddled with rhetoric about the evils of debt, the BC government sent signals that it will make sweeping cuts to avoid provincial debt. What is unclear from the Speech is whether or not more costs will just be downloaded onto families in the form of higher tuition fees, reduced student grants, or both.

“The government talks about rejuvenating the workforce and not mortgaging the future, but that is impossible without a strategy to reduce student debt,” said Reid.

Tuition fees have more than doubled since Gordon Campbell was elected Premier in 2001. In 2004, the BC Liberal government eliminated the province’s grants program, driving student debt up to record levels overnight. Today, BC ranks last in Canada in proportion of student assistance expenditures on non-repayable aid.

The Canadian Federation of Students-British Columbia is BC’s provincial student organization, representing 150,000 university and college students at all levels of post-secondary education in BC. It is non-partisan and affiliated with Canada’s largest national student organization, the Canadian Federation of Students. 

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VANCOUVER—According to new figures released by the provincial government, tuition fees collected by the province will surpass corporate income taxes in 2011.

“The private sector profits handsomely from an educated workforce. Corporate taxes should help subsidize public education, not the other way around,” said Shamus Reid, Chairperson of Canadian Federation of Students-British Columbia (CFS-BC). 

Burdening families - by the numbers:

Tuition Fees (2001): $2,200

Tuition Fees (2009): $5,100

Tuition Fee Revenue to Government (2001): $452 million

Tuition Fee Revenue to Government (2011 forecast): $1.11 billion

Corporate Income Tax Revenue (2001): $1.52 billion

Corporate Income Tax Revenue (2011 forecast): $1.04 billion

“Make no mistake: this is a very dramatic shift in who pays in British Columbia. If you are a CEO of a large corporation, then celebrate. If you are an average income earner, you should be very concerned,” said Reid.

The latest numbers are found in the September provincial budget update.

The Canadian Federation of Students-British Columbia is BC’s provincial student organization, representing 150,000 university and college students at all levels of post-secondary education in BC. It is non-partisan and affiliated with Canada’s largest national student organization, the Canadian Federation of Students.

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VANCOUVER—By slashing six separate programs, Premier Gordon Campbell is breaking an election promise to maintain funding for student aid, says the Canadian Federation of Students-BC. 

“This is the worst possible time to be cutting financial aid. Young workers are usually the first to be laid off and we rely on student aid programs to get through rough patches,” said Shamus Reid, CFS-BC Chairperson.

On July 22, internal government communication was leaked to the media that outlined funding cuts to the following programs:

Permanent Disability Benefits Program (eliminated)

Debt Reduction in Repayment (eliminated)

Loan Reduction for Residential Care Aide and Home Support Workers Programs (eliminated)

Health Care Bursary (eliminated)

Early Childhood Educator Loan Assistance Program (under review)

Premier’s Excellence Award (eliminated)

Repayment Assistance Program (delayed)

“The program cuts will disproportionately hurt people with a disability and women,” suggested Reid, referring to the Permanent Disability Benefits Program and loan forgiveness in areas dominated by women, such as early childhood education and healthcare.

In 2003, the BC Liberal government eliminated the province’s grants program. Today, BC ranks last in Canada in proportion of student assistance expenditures on non-repayable aid.

The Canadian Federation of Students-British Columbia is BC’s provincial student organization, representing 150,000 university and college students at all levels of post-secondary education in BC. It is non-partisan and affiliated with Canada’s largest national student organization, the Canadian Federation of Students.

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