Campbell's Baby Bonus Ignores British Columbians' Concerns Ineffectual Program is an Attempt to Mask $23M CutVICTORIA-- The BC Government's announcement of a $1,000 ‘children's education credit’ will do nothing for students who need help now, say students reacting to the BC Budget. And, with no plan to reduce tuition fees, the benefits to families will be more than eaten up by the time the credit can be used.
“British Columbian's didn't support this idea when Campbell proposed it three months ago, I'm not sure why he thinks that they will support it now”, said Scott Payne, BC Chairperson for the Canadian Federation of Students. "Campbell and his Liberals need to reduce the tuition fees that they have doubled over the past five years."
Under the government's current tuition fee policy of inflationary increases, average tuition fees will be $7,226 by the year 2025, when the first children will be able to access the post-secondary credit. This amounts to an increase of $2,266, while the government projects the credit will grow to just $2,200.
Budget 2007 cut funding for student financial assistance by $23 million. BC currently has the second highest student debt in Canada, at an average of nearly $27, 000 upon graduation. Student debt has increased at a higher rate in BC than anywhere else in Canada in the last five years, rising from amongst the lowest in Canada.
"With the additional cuts to student financial assistance, Campbell is shutting the door on students who are most in need, and telling BC's families to wait eighteen years for some relief", said Shamus Reid, BC National Executive Representative. "This Budget makes absolutely no sense for students and families."Students called for a 10% reduction in tuition fees in Budget 2007, at a cost of $92 million, just 3% of the governments $2.8 billion surplus.
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