Budget 2018: Trudeau Liberals continue to ignore student debt crisis

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Feb 28, 2018 1 min read
In a budget that took 367 pages to describe, the Trudeau Liberal government outlines its plan for a number of social and economic issues. From increased parental leave, to gender equality in corporate board rooms, to off-shore tax sheltering, Finance Minister Bill Morneau addresses a broad range of topics. For students, one topic appears conspicuously absent.
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Child care investment improves access to post-secondary education

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Feb 21, 2018 1 min read
Post-secondary students stand to benefit from the BC Government’s substantial investment in affordable child care. Budget 2018 invests $1 billion over the next three years to increase licensed spaces and reduce costs to families, which will help students with children afford to attend school.
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BC students applaud minimum wage increase

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Feb 08, 2018 1 min read
Today’s announcement by the BC government to increase the minimum wage to $15.20 per hour by 2021 brings welcome relief to students across the province. “As the cost of tuition fees, textbooks, and rent continue to increase, students and their families are being forced to take on more debt,” said Simka Marshall, Chairperson of the British Columbia Federation of Students.
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StatsCan report reveals government funding on the decline

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Jan 18, 2018 1 min read
A Statistics Canada report released this week shows that government funding is declining at colleges across the country. According to the report, the proportion of college revenues from provincial governments is declining, while revenues from tuition fees and ancillary fees have been increasing, resulting a declining proportion of operating budgets covered by public funding.
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An Open Letter to Members regarding the Kwantlen Student Association

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Jan 15, 2018 8 min read
At the December 2017 meeting of the Executive Committee, and after much discussion across several meetings, the decision was made to recommend that the members at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) be expelled from the Federation. This situation is unique and as such deserves an explanation.
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Budget update demonstrates renewed commitment to PSE

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Sep 11, 2017 2 min read
The Budget Update announced today by the BC government demonstrates the government’s commitment to increasing access to post-secondary education. Following the recent announcement to eliminate tuition fees for adult basic education and English language learning classes, the Budget Update outlines the funding for these programs.
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Government to eliminate tuition fees for youth in care

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Sep 01, 2017 2 min read
Students are celebrating the government’s announcement of a fully-funded tuition fee waiver for those who have been in the government care system. Nearly 1,000 youth age-out of government care each year. Many of these youth, at 19 years of age, do not have foster or family homes to go to—they are on their own.
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Adult Basic Education made tuition fee-free again

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Aug 08, 2017 2 min read
VICTORIA—Students are celebrating a major victory today for some of British Columbia’s most impoverished students, with the BC government announcement that tuition fees will be eliminated for all adult basic education (ABE) and English as a second language (ESL) courses.
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BC Budget takes steps to ease burden of student debt

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Feb 22, 2017 1 min read
Students and their families will finally feel some relief following yesterday’s provincial budget. After years of rising tuition fees and record levels of student debt, Budget 2017 announces a reduction in interest charged on student loans. “Students are pleased that the government listen to their call, and has taken this important step towards mitigating student debt.”
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