Manitoba NDP aim to make university education more affordable

WINNIPEG – Manitoba NDP Leader Greg Selinger says he will turn student loans into non-repayable grants if he is re-elected premier on April 19.

Selinger is also promising to provide free tuition up to age 25 for students who are in the child-welfare system and to double funding for scholarships and bursaries.

Selinger says the $40-million price tag for the NDP’s plan is affordable within the government’s fiscal projections.

The Manitoba Liberals have also promised to convert student loans into grants at a cost of $10 million.

Selinger says the Liberals have underestimated the cost.

The New Democrats in Saskatchewan, where there is also an election campaign underway, have made a similar promise.