Government must keep promises to students: Kirby

For Immediate Release
February 1, 2012

NDP Advanced Education Critic Dale Kirby (MHA, St. John’s North) agrees with the Canadian Federation of Students that “Education is a Right.” Access to quality, affordable post-secondary education is a cause that he has championed for a decade and a half.

“I was involved in organizing many protests and demonstrations during my years with the student movement,” said Kirby. “This kind of direct participation from students is invaluable and has a real effect on public policy. I speak from experience - I was there when we successfully lobbied for and won the original tuition fee freeze in 1999.”

“Even the Dunderdale Conservatives have picked up on the calls from students. In the recent election campaign they committed to a long-standing NDP policy – to replace provincial student loans with needs-based grants,” he said.

“On Tuesday, the Premier told the St. John’s Board of Trade that her election promises would be implemented on the basis of affordability. I hope this includes her government’s promise to make post-secondary education more affordable for students,” said Kirby.

Kirby asked, “Can the premier confirm for us today that the upcoming budget will include the promised funding to eliminate provincial student loans over four years, and replace them with up-front needs-based grants? I know my caucus stands behind our election commitments.”

Dale Kirby was the Newfoundland and Labrador Representative on the National Executive of the Canadian Federation of Students from 1996 to 1997. He then served as Chairperson of the Newfoundland and Labrador component of the Canadian Federation of Students from 1997 to 1999. Kirby was part of the leadership team that ran the successful campaign to freeze college and university tuition fees.

Add to: Digg | del.icio.us | Technorati | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl