Government is improving higher education
Published Saturday July 11th, 2009
We need to do more than echo the promises of the past. We need to act upon them."
This was a pledge made in the 2006 Liberal platform, "Charter for Change," on post-secondary education. It noted that in the past governments invariably would state that higher education was a priority. However, few governments have acted as quickly and decisively on the file as the government of Shawn Graham has in less than three years.
The Graham government understands the importance of post-secondary education and training as a cornerstone to a young person's future. With the economy a top priority for New Brunswickers, it is important to invest in priorities now, especially during tough economic times, to build a stronger economy for the future.
Post-secondary education is one of the top priorities, and plays a big role in this government's plan for a self-sufficient New Brunswick. In this year's budget alone, the government is investing more than $58 million more in the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour.
The plan to restructure post-secondary education in New Brunswick will build a stronger, more affordable and more accessible system for everyone. The effects of this plan are being felt across the province.
One of the keys to this plan is that it be student-focused. In a province such as New Brunswick, post-secondary education has to be affordable and accessible. That's why this government has doubled the maximum lifetime tuition rebate from $10,000 to $20,000, and the maximum annual rebate from $2,000 to $4,000 for post-secondary graduates working in New Brunswick. Another welcome change is the removal of spousal or parental income as consideration for student loan applications with respect to the New Brunswick portion of student loans.
New Brunswick students will benefit from a tuition freeze for a second consecutive academic year at our province's four publicly funded universities. This government has also introduced a Timely Completion Benefit whereby students completing an undergraduate, certificate, diploma or degree on or after April 1, 2009, within the program timeline will have 100 per cent of their provincial student loan forgiven in excess of a $26,000 debt threshold.
The litmus test is not found in a partisan spin, but in how students feel about the changes this government has made to address their concerns. Earlier this year New Brunswick Student Alliance president Duncan Gallant called the changes "the most progressive and comprehensive changes to student financial aid in New Brunswick's history." That comment speaks for itself.
The government is also improving the schools where our students get their educations.
This government is investing $180 million in New Brunswick community colleges and public universities over the next two years. This, added to the $49 million contribution from the federal government, will inject $229 million into New Brunswick's economy, providing state-of-the-art post-secondary education facilities for our students.
Saint John will see significant changes, with more than $40 million for the construction of two new community college buildings. An allied health facility will be built at Tucker Park, while the Grandview campus will house the new Centre of Excellence for Energy and Construction.
Another major change will take place in Edmundston, with the construction of a college campus within the campus of l'Université de Moncton.
These projects in Saint John and Edmundston will foster greater collaboration among colleges and universities, a welcome change in the province.
Fredericton is also getting a long-awaited new college campus. It will be located within the UNB and St. Thomas University campuses, again building a stronger relationship between the college and universities and allowing for greater flexibility among students who wish to take courses in both institutions.
Mount Allison University is seeing $4.3 million in renovations. The University of New Brunswick will receive $18 million towards the construction of the Currie Centre, while St. Thomas University will receive $3 million to upgrade various buildings. L'Université de Moncton will see some $36 million, providing for the construction of a new research facility in Moncton and major renovations on the Edmundston and Shippagan campuses.
This government is also increasing trades training in the province. Notably, the employment rate for the NBCC graduating class of 2007 was the highest ever recorded, at 92 per cent, with 90 per cent of these graduates working here in New Brunswick.
Premier Graham promised to improve post-secondary education in New Brunswick and make it more student-focused. For that matter, so did the previous government of Bernard Lord and David Alward.
The difference is Shawn Graham delivered on his promise. David Alward did not. That's an important thing to remember, as the political rhetoric ratchets up heading into an election year.
Britt Dysart is a lawyer who practises in Fredericton and president of the New Brunswick Liberal Association.
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When we speak of education or almost anything in this province major obstacles to change are the now firmly entrenched fifedoms that have been built in this province over the many decades. These fifedoms, the direct result of the way in which government has been practiced in the past have led many electors to place value in them.
But change is what is required in this place even if it is made difficult to achieve or political suicide to attempt. This work to in bringing necessary change to this province in not only the work of a government. All New Brunswicker's have a stake and it so it requires all to accept the responsibility to at least change themselves.
As a student in NB with over $45,000 debt and how (like most) does not qualify for the timely completion program, I can definitely say that the province's "most progressive" changes have in almost no way affected me... since I likely won't be making enough money to qualify for the tax credits once I'm done my studies.