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Whalen: Conservatives Must Do More To Control University Tuitions |
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Written by NS Liberal Party
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Tuesday, 04 April 2006 |
Proposed tuition hikes at Dalhousie University are proof the Conservative government must do more to assist students who want a university education, says Liberal Education Critic Diana Whalen.
Whalen is responding proposed tuition hikes recommended by the university's budget advisory committee that begin with a 3.9 per cent hike in undergraduate tuition. This increase has been expected as it is allowed under the MOU signed with the provincial government.
What is most alarming to Whalen are the potential tuition hikes for professional programs and international students. Reports suggest that international students are facing an increase of 14.4 per cent while students in professional programs, such as law, medicine, and dentistry are facing increases of between 5.9 and 9.9 per cent.
"We should be trying to encourage bright and talented Nova Scotians who want to practice medicine and law to remain in the province. That starts by getting their education here," says Whalen. "Tuition increases like those proposed at Dal do nothing but force many students to leave and go elsewhere for their education."
"We have a doctor shortage in this province," says Whalen. "Shouldn't we be encouraging potential Nova Scotia medical students to go to school here, rather than struggling to recruit them back to the province after they have settled elsewhere?"
As Immigration Critic, Whalen is also concerned about the effects that higher tuition will have on immigration.
"The Conservative government says it is doing everything it can to encourage immigration, but tuition increases like this one will force international students to look elsewhere for university. The ultimate loser will be Nova Scotia. Sitting idle and allowing international tuitions to skyrocket is no way to encourage immigration to this province."
Last week Whalen revealed that Nova Scotia has the least affordable university education in Canada and the United States. |
