HALIFAX--The Canadian Federation of Students is calling on the MacDonald government to act on key findings published in the Student Assistance Review. An overwhelming margin of Nova Scotians identified non-repayable grants as the best student financial assistance program.

"Years of conservative government tuition fee increases have created the student debt crisis in Nova Scotia," said Kaley Kennedy, Nova Scotia Representative of the Canadian Federation of Students. "The survey results are clear: Nova Scotians want the government to take action on student aid by implementing up-front grants."The Review included public consultations at seven locations across the province, an online questionnaire, and written submissions. Throughout the report, participants cited the need for student debt relief as their primary concern.

In a recent poll conducted by Decima Research, 40% of respondents with incomes less than $40,000 said that they, or someone in their family, had chosen not to attend university because of the resulting student debt. The poll also found that 85% of Nova Scotians support a needs-based grants program. Currently, the average student in Nova Scotia graduates with $28,000 of debt after an undergraduate degree.

"The most effective means of providing debt relief for students is by implementing a system of needs-based grants coupled with reductions in tuition fees," said Kennedy.