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The Manitoba government will continue long-term efforts to ensure quality post-secondary education is affordable and accessible by boosting its investment to bursary and access programs by $2.5 million while approving regulated increases in tuition next year, Advanced Education and Literacy Minister Diane McGifford announced.
 
For the 2009-10 academic year, the province will allow up to a 4.5 per cent increase in university tuition fees, provided any increase includes ancillary fees.  A $100 increase will be allowed for college tuition fees.  This is the first tuition fee increase since a 10 per cent tuition fee reduction and freeze in 1999-2000, implemented as part of a broader strategy to improve participation in post-secondary education.
 
“Manitoba’s tuition fees continue to remain far below those in neighbouring provincial jurisdictions and well below Canadian averages,” said McGifford.   “Over the past nine years, our government has made substantial investments in supports for university and college students including scholarships, bursaries and tax incentives to make post‑secondary education affordable and accessible to more Manitobans.  
 
“We’re proud of our track record and we continue to build on past accomplishments by keeping our university and college costs among the lowest in Canada.  In addition, we will continue to find new ways to support students who may otherwise not have access to higher learning.”
 
The Manitoba government has increased quality educational opportunities for students through significant college expansion, introducing and enhancing programs to ensure greater participation of groups traditionally under-represented in post-secondary education and targeting financial supports to students who most need them, McGifford added.  This year, in addition to tuition increases, Manitoba’s universities and colleges will benefit from an increase to strategic program and operating grant investments totalling six per cent.
 
The recently announced 2009 provincial budget included a 12 per cent increase of $1 million to the Manitoba Bursary program, making $9.3 million available to post-secondary students managing debt loads. Included in the increase is $640,000 which will be set aside for rural and northern students. At 14.1 per cent, Manitoba continues to have one of the lowest rates of students accessing student aid and one of the fastest rates of loan repayment.
 
The province also increased funding to ACCESS programs by 4.5 per cent to $9.1 million.  ACCESS programs offer academic and personal support as well as financial assistance to students who face social, economic or cultural barriers to education.
 
“We have also doubled funding to $2 million for Bright Futures. The fund was established to increase post‑secondary participation among rural, northern, Aboriginal and inner-city students by intervening early and encouraging them to stay in school,” McGifford said.
 
On July 28, 2008, the minister appointed Dr. Ben Levin as commissioner on Tuition Fees and Accessibility to Post-Secondary Education in Manitoba.  The commission’s report was released to the public on April 2, 2009.  After receiving the report, government met with representatives of primary stakeholder groups including administrations and students to discuss tuition fee policy and future access initiatives.
 
“One of the key findings of Dr. Levin’s report is that Manitoba should take steps to ensure those who want to benefit from post-secondary education are not deterred or prevented from doing so,” McGifford said.  “We believe the proposed tuition fee increases, coupled with additional financial supports and access programming, will help universities and colleges manage their budgets effectively while at the same time widening the range of post-secondary opportunities available to Manitobans.”