British Columbians head to the polls on May 9th. Over the next few days, see what local candidates had to say about some of the major issues.
We asked: Student loan debt and tuition fees are just two, of a number of factors, that make it difficult for British Columbians to obtain a quality education and pursue their desired careers. What will you do to make education more affordable in B.C.?
B.C. NDP
Barb Nederpel | Kamloops-North Thompson
We will make student loans interest free — current and future, provide a $1,000 completion grant, keep a cap on tuition fees and make life affordable for students and many in B.C. by capping Hydro rates, stopping the proposed 42% hike in ICBC rates and providing a $400 yearly rebate to renters.
Nancy Bepple | Kamloops-South Thompson
John Horgan and the B.C. NDP are committed to affordable post-secondary education through:
- eliminating interest on current and future BC student loans;
- providing a $1,000 completion grant for graduates of colleges, universities and skilled trades programs
- eliminating fees for Adult Basic Education and ESL, and;
- retaining the cap on tuition fees at colleges and universities.
B.C. Liberals
Peter Milobar | Kamloops-North Thompson
We need to keep education affordable — that’s why we’ve capped tuition increase at 2% since 2005. B.C. undergrads currently pay the fourth -lowest tuition in Canada. The B.C. Liberal balanced budget 2017 lowers the interest rate on student loans from prime plus-2.5% to just prime, starting this August — saving people around $45M over the next three years.
Todd Stone | Kamloops-South Thompson
Awaiting response.
B.C. Greens
Dan Hines | Kamloops-North Thompson
A B.C. Green government will implement a program of needs-based grants for post-secondary students, offer tax forgiveness of up to $2,000/year for up to five years to assist graduates in repaying debt from tuition fees, set up a Post-Secondary Education Task Force to identify ways to make post-secondary education more relevant, accessible and affordable and invest $65 million over four years to support co-op and work experience programs for high school and undergraduate students.
Donovan Cavers | Kamloops-South Thompson
My party and I support:
- Implement needs-based grants for post-secondary students
- Offer tax forgiveness of up to $2,000/year for up to five years to assist graduates in repaying debt from tuition fees
- Set up a Post-Secondary Education Task Force to identify ways to make post-secondary education more relevant, accessible and affordable
- Invest $65 million over four years to support co-op and work experience programs for high school and undergraduate students
- Green Party’s plan for post-secondary education can be found here
B.C. Communist Party
Peter Kerek | Kamloops-North Thompson
Our party supports the elimination of post-secondary tuition as well as a program of debt forgiveness for students who have been unfairly saddled with massive debt loads upon graduation.
Too many of our most talented students never reach their full potential because the financial burden of such debt is too great a hurdle to overcome, or, may just not be worth the financial sacrifice. We really are selling ourselves short, as a society, when we fail to give our students all the possible opportunities to put all their skills and assets to use.
Beat Klossner | Kamloops-South Thompson
We will make post-secondary education free and available to all regardless of wealth or social standing. In the last few decades there has been a trend toward privatizing our universities and, as a result, tuition fees have become unaffordable for many. This is also one of the reasons why we have a shortage of doctors and nurses.
TRU is only funded by about 40% by the province, down from 75% a decade ago. TRU is not a public nor a private university but simply a business. It is only a question of time until TRU will be contracted out to a private corporation. We will provide a 100% publicly funded post-secondary education system. We will make universities into independent institutions of learning and research, by the public for the public good.
B.C. Libertarian Party
Jessica Bradshaw | Kamloops-South Thompson
Awaiting response.
