BRITISH COLUMBIA TO LIMIT TUITION INCREASES

VICTORIA – Making British Columbia the best-educated and most literate place in North America is one of the five Great Goals For A Golden Decade outlined in today’s throne speech, said Premier Gordon Campbell.

“Ensuring young British Columbians have access to a great education is the best way to secure their future and B.C.’s future as North America’s crossroads to the Asia-Pacific,” Campbell said. “As a result of the actions we’ve taken since 2001, my government has worked to make sure B.C. has a very good education system. But very good is not good enough when it comes to education – and now we have the opportunity to put our schools and our students on a path to excellence.

“We understand that tuition costs are a concern to many B.C. families. To address that concern, we will introduce legislation later this year that will limit future tuition increases to the rate of inflation, effective this September.”

The limit on tuition increases is part of a strategic plan to achieve the great goal of making B.C. the leader in education and literacy that also includes:

Increased funding for colleges and universities by $132 million over next three years.
New steps to improve student financial assistance.
Continuing to build 25,000 new post-secondary student spaces by 2010.
Legislation to create a new Thompson Rivers University based in Kamloops.
Speeding up credentialing in trades and the professions for newcomers to Canada.
Establishing a World Trade University in Chilliwack to offer graduate-level programs in trade-related fields and host international trade conferences and events, including potential World Trade Forum events.
Establishing a One World Scholarship Fund to help B.C. students earn their degrees and diplomas in other non-G8 countries, helping B.C. create new relationships around the world.

· A $150-million increase in K-12 school funding this year to ensure school districts have the resources to provide library services, textbooks, art and music programs, and services to students with special needs.

An extension of the Action Schools program to every school in B.C. in grades K to 9 and elimination of junk food in all schools within the next four years.

“Our children and youth are our most precious resource,” Premier Campbell said. “My government is committed to doing everything necessary to ensure B.C.’s children are well-educated and physically fit in a safe and supportive environment, and that our young people have access to the best post-secondary education in the world.”

This plan builds on the government’s achievements in expanding access to post-secondary education – a record that includes:

· Increased post-secondary student spaces, including 6,000 new student spaces over the last three years and another 25,000 new student spaces across B.C. by 2010.

· Increased overall funding to institutions every year since 2001.

· A new UBC-Okanagan campus in Kelowna and a new Okanagan College.

A new SFU campus in Surrey.

· The new Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, which includes taking on the functions of the Open University.

· More than $625 million in new funding for capital projects on campuses throughout B.C., including a new campus for Northwest Community College in Prince Rupert; a Williams Lake campus for Thompson Rivers University; a joint College of New Caledonia and UNBC campus in Quesnel; a new trades training campus in Cloverdale for Kwantlen University College, and a $70 million campus to house SFU’s operations in Surrey.

· Expanded trades training through the Industry Training Authority; more seats in computer science and electrical and computer engineering; an Aerospace Training Strategy; and a new Oil and Gas Industry Training Centre of Excellence in Fort St. John.

· Doubling the number of doctors in training with new medical schools at UNBC in Prince George and UVic in Victoria, and a new Life Sciences Centre at UBC.

· 2,134 new nurse training spaces added since 2001.

· A $30-million student loan reduction program and a $15-million scholarship program.

-30-


Media contact:	Mike Morton Press Secretary Office of the Premier 250 213-8218

Visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca for online information and services.