‘95 Federal Budget Marked a ee

Turning Point for Education

1995 saw some major events occur in the political makeup of Canada and British Columbia. Quebec held a referendum on whether or not it would split from the rest of the country. B.C.’s premier, Mike Harcourt, announced that he wouldn’t lead the NDP in the next election. But perhaps the news that may really have the biggest effect on Capilano College was the budget released by federal Finance Minister Paul Martin on February 27, 1995.

In an attempt to reduce Canada’s growing debt, this new budget drastically reduces money allocated to the provinces. Martin announced a $457 million cut in federal transfer payments across Canada next year for education, health and social services, plus a further $801 million reduction the year after. This means a 4.4 per cent reduction in total payments to provinces across the nation.

British Columbia will see a reduction from $3 billion $573 million received in 1994/95 to $3 billion $291 million in 1996/97. This is a reduction of $282 million to B.C. for education, health and social programs over the next three years.

B.C.’s Finance Minister Elizabeth Cull says that this could mean that post-secondary tuition fees will sky rocket and the number of spots in post- secondary institutions may drop.

Each province may have different spending priorities. For instance, one province may place more emphasis on post-secondary education, while another might see health or welfare as a priority.

The payments for post-secondary education will be unchanged for 1995/ 96, but most likely will be cut the following year. Depending on what B.C. does with welfare and health

programs, tuition hikes may come into effect after the provincial budget is released at the end of next March.

Michelle Kemper, B.C. chair of the Canadian Federation of Students, predicts a 175 per cent increase in student tuition fees and says that students simply won’t be able to bear the burden.

She added that the cuts will have a drastic

S= education. Students could be forced to pay higher fees and finance their education through massive student loans leaving them with debts the size of small mortgages. They will be unable to pay for their education simply.by working in the summer or part time.

A poor turnout at a protest on January 25, 1995 (only 4,000 post- secondary students and their supporters marched through downtown Vancouver) left some students feeling disappointed at the lack of support from their fellow classmates. They felt that too many students did not think that the cut in transfer payments would affect them.

On March 7, 1995, the Public Relations department at Capilano College arranged a panel discussion and phone-in segment on Shaw Cable TV to discuss the proposed budget cuts. The hour long program included Dr. Hedy Fry, MP for Vancouver Centre; Michelle Kemper, B.C. chair for the Canadian Federation of Students; David Schreck, NDP, MLA, North Vancouver-Lonsdale; and, professor Mark Battersby, president of the Capilano College Faculty Association.

A video tape of this program contains excellent information on the key issues of cuts to federal transfer payments. If you wish to borrow it, please contact public relations officer, Shelley Kean, at local 2088. :i

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