NLIS 9 April 7, 2003 (Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education) Minister reaffirms government�s commitment to affordable post-secondary education Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education Minister Anna Thistle today restated government�s commitment to making post-secondary education affordable for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and declared recent statements by Opposition critic Tom Hedderson as misleading. "Newfoundland and Labrador was one of the first provinces in the country to address the problem of high tuition at post-secondary institutions, by implementing tuition freezes in 1998, 1999 and 2000," said Minister Thistle. "Since 2001, we�ve reduced tuition rates for Memorial University�s undergraduate and graduate programs by 25 per cent; the most recent decrease of five per cent was announced in Budget 2003. We currently have the lowest Canadian university tuition rate in the country - something all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians can be proud of." Tuition rates at College of the North Atlantic, the Marine Institute and Memorial�s Medical School remain frozen. "There is no evidence that young people from this province have been scared away from pursuing a post-secondary education in Newfoundland and Labrador because of high tuition rates, as Mr. Hedderson suggests," said Minister Thistle. "Our post-secondary institutions are preparing graduates for the world job market, with continued prosperity in Newfoundland and Labrador, it is anticipated that our graduates will remain in the province, contributing their experience and knowledge to our social and economic development." In addition to tuition reductions, government has also introduced a number of initiatives to assist students in repaying their student loans. Recent changes to the Newfoundland and Labrador Student Loans program include new debt reduction grants, enhanced interest relief and improved earnings exemptions. Government has also announced a new Newfoundland and Labrador Student Loan Tax Credit and a Youth Opportunities Newfoundland and Labrador program, designed to encourage post-secondary graduates to stay and work in our province. "The measures undertaken by this government reflect our strong commitment to young people in their pursuit of post-secondary education," said Minister Thistle.
Media contact: Kathy Dicks-Peyton, Communications, (709) 729-6573 BACKGROUNDER: Average Canadian University Tuition1 For Undergraduate Arts and Science Programs by Province 1994-1995, 1996, 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2001-2002 and 2002-2003
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