Saskatchewan tuition hike the steepest in Canada

REGINA – Saskatchewan universities are top of their class but not for a reason worth flaunting.

A Statistics Canada report shows undergraduate tuition fees in Saskatchewan increased by four per cent this year, which is the largest increase among the provinces.

“It seems like an outrageous amount of money but that’s kind of what you expect when you go to university,” said one student. “I have a full-time job. My parents help me out a little bit. I have a student loan.”

Tuition has increased over the past five years at the University of Regina and this year its up by 3.8 per cent.

“It doesn’t seem perhaps like that big of a deal because it’s happening so slowly, but the net effect, over the five years, means every semester students are a thousand dollars shorter,” said Devon Peters, students’ union president at the University of Regina.

According to Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan undergraduates pay on average $6,659 per year, the second highest in Canada. Undergraduate students in Ontario pay the highest fees at $7,539.

The province believes its done its part through incentives and scholarships.

“We’ve also increased the operating grants at the universities substantively over the last number of years,” said Advanced Education Minister Kevin Doherty. “I would turn the question towards the universities as to what are they looking at in terms of their cost drivers on campus.”

“That’s actually a cop-out from this government,” said NDP Advanced Education Critic Warren McCall. “In past, we’ve seen them negotiate tuition freezes that were fully funded. For them to play pin-the-tail on the institutions doesn’t cut it.”

No one from the U of R was available for an interview but provided Global News with a statement.

Statement from the University of Regina on tuition rates:

“According to an analysis of comparable programs across the country, like Arts, the University of Regina is in the top one-third in terms of affordability across the nation among English speaking universities. The University has worked hard to keep tuition at reasonable levels, with tuition increases averaging approximately 2.5% over the last ten years, well within inflation. The University also provides strong scholarship support, with the second highest ratio of scholarships-to-tuition among comprehensive universities in Canada.”

Average undergraduate tuition fee increase:

Saskatchewan: 4.0%

Ontario: 3.9%

Nova Scotia: 3.6%

New Brunswick: 3.5%

Quebec: 3.2%

Source: Statistics Canada