Nova Scotia Students to NDP: Don’t Cap Student Debts, Lower Tuition

The NDP’s plan to cap student debt for Nova Scotia’s students is Ok, but lower tuition is better.

That’s how the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) feels about a debt-cap plan that was outlined in the provincial budget introduced at the legislature.

“The best way to cap and reduce student debt is to ensure students do not have to take on debt in the first place,” said Elise Graham, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Nova Scotia.

“This new program will still require students to take on massive debt loads in order to pay high tuition fees.”

The NDP pledged a $8-million initiative to forgive the Nova Scotia portion of any student loans above $28,560, beginning in four years time. The provincial government is also raising tuition fees by 3 per cent per year, over the next three. They will also cut universities grants by $14 million over the next year.

“This year the government will boast a four hundred million dollar surplus but is unwilling to invest in a well-funded, high-quality university system that is affordable for Nova Scotia students and their families,” said Graham.

The CFS also points out that provincial government currently spends about $2, 000 less per-student on universities than the national average, which leads to high student debts.