The following statement was read today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education:

Minister Applauds Newest Memorial University Graduates

Last week I had the honour of attending one of the convocation ceremonies at Memorial University, and I rise this afternoon to offer congratulations to our province’s newest university graduates.

It was truly inspiring to look out and see literally hundreds of our future leaders ready to take the world by storm. They join the thousands of alumni who are proud to call Memorial their alma mater.

This province has finally begun to benefit from being a resource-rich land of opportunity. But our most valuable resource will always be our people, especially our young people, who will build on the economic foundation we have laid and help this province reach its full potential in the future.

Our government is committed to ensuring Memorial University continues to offer students a world-class post-secondary education that is both accessible and affordable.

Tuition fees are among the lowest in the country and we have invested heavily in a tuition freeze to keep it that way. Upfront, needs-based grants, which were eliminated in the 1990s, were re-introduced in 2007 and expanded in 2009, so that post-secondary students can now receive almost 60 per cent of their provincial assistance in the form of a non-repayable grant. Also, this government has eliminated the interest on the provincial portion of student loans – the first province in Canada to do so. Combined, these initiatives represent an investment of more than $225 million.

But we are also investing in the university itself – its people, its programs, and its infrastructure. Since 2003, Memorial University’s operating and capital budget has increased by 152 per cent, from $145 million to $366 million this year.

Our strength is in our people. And our future is in the bright minds of young women and men who can envision what this province can be, and who have the skills and knowledge to make that vision a reality. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing them all the best as they pursue their chosen endeavours.

2011 05 31             1:50 p.m.