Students Give Failing Grade to Manitoba Budget

Earlier this month, the provincial government revealed Manitoba’s new budget. The Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) is far from impressed with what it contained.

The CFS were outraged that The Budget seemed poised to cut the funding promised in Budget 2011 for universities and colleges, while driving up tuition fees to increase to cover the difference.

“Universities and colleges will be forced to balance their budgets on the backs of students,” said Bilan Arte, Deputy Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Manitoba.

“Either through tuition fee increases or program cuts, students, and the quality of the education they receive, will bear the brunt of this budget.”

The CFS also flagged that the government introduced a cap on tuition fee increases for some students in 2012, however the cap doesn’t apply to international students, college students, or students in professional programs.

“Students are going to pay more but get less in the upcoming academic year,” said Arte.

“Decisions like these will lead us closer to the systems in Ontario and Nova Scotia, where high fees and low funding squeeze students and their families into debt and slow economic growth in the province.”

The Canadian Federation of Students-Manitoba represents over 42,000 university students throughout the province.