nat'l: Alberta students may get two years free tuition
Nathan Sharpe, CUP Alberta and Northern Bureau Chief
LETHBRIDGE (CUP) - As the provincial post-secondary education review draws to a close, Advanced Education Minister Dave Hancock has put forth the suggestion that Alberta's students enjoy two years of free tuition.
Hancock floated another plan by Albertans on Wednesday, though his other one was not nearly as popular among student university leaders. He proposed a deregulation of tuition as a possibility in the future.
The president of the University of Lethbridge's Students' Union, Tyler Tanner, doesn't support the initiative.
"Deregulated tuition is anti-intuitive considering Alberta's 298 per cent increase since 1991 and the premier's commitment to Albertans to have the most affordable tuition in Canada."
Both announcements were noncommittal though, and the minister made no mention of how either program would be implemented.
"I would like to know if there is a catch," said a skeptical Jen Smith, chair of the provincial student lobby group, and VP External for the University of Calgary Students' Union.
She is skeptical for many reasons, and is hoping that if a plan to have two years of free tuition in Alberta is reached, the government will make sure that issues such as overcrowding, or the 30 per cent hikes that B.C. has seen in the past are avoided.
She also said there needs to be a plan to address the "deferred maintenance bill," which is the upkeep and maintenance of the buildings and infrastructures of the campuses, which has been neglected.
For now, Albertans will have to wait for more details, but Smith is excited about the possibilities. She said things such as younger post-secondary education graduates, more graduate students, mean a more educated and productive Alberta.
She did caution that there are other costs associated with attending post-secondary education such as fees, levies, and living costs.
"At this point, it's only an idea, so naturally we all have questions," said Tanner.
Along with the rest of Alberta's students, he will be waiting for the answers contained in the PSE review due out in the upcoming weeks.