OTTAWA--Michael Ignatieff's announcement that the Liberal Party of Canada has joined students in supporting lifting the 2% cap on annual funding increases to the Post-secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP).

"We are happy that the Leader of the Official Opposition has heeded the call of students and called for the regressive cap on Aboriginal student funding to be lifted," said Jaden Keitlah, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students' National Aboriginal Caucus. "This is a step forward in the fight to stop Aboriginal learners from being shut-out of post-secondary education."

The PSSSP provides funding for Aboriginal students pursuing a post-secondary education. Since 1996, funding increases to the PSSSP have been capped at 2% per year despite the fact that Aboriginal learners are the fastest growing demographic in Canada and that the costs of post-secondary education increase significantly each year. The Liberals are the second party in the House of Commons, after the New Democrats, to join students and Aboriginal leaders in calling for the cap to be removed.

"Current funding levels fall far short of fulfilling the government's obligation to provide for First Nations education," said Keitlah. "It is time for the government to live-up to its responsibility."

Founded in 1981, the Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's largest student organisation, uniting more than one-half million students in ten provinces. The National Aboriginal Caucus is the voice of Aboriginal students in Canada, with members on campuses from St. John's to Victoria.