WINNIPEG--Today, the Canadian Federation of Students–Manitoba is released its latest report, "First Aid for Student Aid.""Students consistently report that student loans fail to meet their needs," says David Jacks, President of the University of Winnipeg Students' Association and Manitoba spokesperson for the Canadian Federation of Students. "The Canadian Federation of Students is calling on the provincial government to implement a series of practical, affordable reforms that would help fix student aid."The report-which includes recommendations to reduce student loan interest rates, bring student living allowances up to the poverty line, provide aid to part-time students, and add grants for Aboriginal, rural and northern students-was developed by talking to students and investigating models from other provinces.

"In the surveys we conducted, students reported that they had public debt from the student loan system and private debt from parents and financial institutions," says Jacks. "While debt levels are too high, many students are struggling to manage on sub-poverty level budgets. It is time for the provincial government to increase grants for students, without allowing tuition fees and debt to rise."

Added Jacks: "Students pay high interest rates on student loans, and are forced to live in poverty. National student aid standards are unacceptable and hard to change, but the Doer government can take the lead by fixing the Manitoba student aid program now."To obtain the full report, visit www.cfsmb.ca.