Tuition Fees Rise Faster than Inflation in 2007
Tuition Fees Rise Faster than Inflation in 2007

OTTAWA--Pressure from students and their families have kept tuition fee increases to a minimum in fall 2007, but financial barriers to university and college are still increasing faster than the rate of inflation. The Canadian Federation of Students is calling on the federal government to increase federal funding for post-secondary education to previous levels to help make post-secondary education more affordable.

"The federal government should take immediate action so that students in every province can have access to affordable post-secondary education," said Amanda Aziz, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "Students and their families deserve protection from tuition fee increases."

According to the annual Statistics Canada tuition fee data released today, average tuition fees increased by 2.8% over 2006, which was in part offset by increases as high as 26% in additional "compulsory fees". Average tuition fees for fall 2007 were $4,524, but ranged from $2,633 in Newfoundland and Labrador to over $6,400 for non-resident students in Nova Scotia. The Canadian Federation of Students says that weak provincial leadership and lacklustre federal funding are to blame.

"Canadians expect that access to higher education should be determined by how hard you study, not by how much money you have," said Aziz. "Tuition fees and student debt still contribute to a tremendous inequality of access across family background and between regions."

Recent Canadian research has demonstrated that financial barriers, such as tuition fees, continue to prevent many young people from enrolling in post-secondary education. Financial considerations also lead to thousands of students withdrawing from their program before graduation.

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