REGINA – The Saskatchewan NDP plans to lower post-secondary costs if the party is elected in April.
NDP leader Cam Broten said post-secondary students would receive $1,000 per year toward their tuition by doubling the Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship.
The funding would begin during the 2016-17 academic year and would cost $31.5 million over four years.
The NDP would also like to eliminate interest on existing student loans, which would cost $8.2 million over four years, and convert student loans to non-repayable grants.
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Broten said the NDP will consult with stakeholders to create tuition fee regulation.
“Instead of making the Sask. Party’s friends and consultants richer, I want to help Saskatchewan’s young people have a better start,” Broten said.
According to Stats Canada, tuition fees rose by 2.9% from the 2014-15 school year to 2015-2016. Saskatchewan undergraduates pay an average of $6,885 per year, the second highest in Canada.
Undergraduate students in Ontario have the highest average fees at $7,868. Every province posted an increase, except for Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador, which froze tuition for 2015-16.
New Brunswick also froze tuition except for a few programs.
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