WINNIPEG--NEWS RELEASE5 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PREMIER HOPEFULS:
Tuition Fee Protection, Fairness for International Students, Student Debt Reduction, Funding for Institutions, Students' Rights.

Winnipeg-In a policy brief released today, the Canadian Federation of Students called hopefuls for the Premiership to prioritise 5 recommendations for post-secondary education.

The policy brief places an emphasis on measures to reduce student poverty and to continue increasing funding for universities and colleges. Recommendations include:
1. Legislated tuition fee protection;
2. An end to higher fees for international students, and the inclusion of internationalstudents under provincial public health insurance;
3. The conversion of a portion of every Manitoba student loan into an up-front grant, and other measures to improve student aid;
4. Increasing operating and capital funding for universities and colleges, with measures for greater accountability to the taxpayer; and
5. Legislation to protect students' right to organise and the rights of students living in campus residences.

"In a few weeks, Manitoba's new Premier will be under policy pressure from all directions," said Jonny Sopotiuk, Manitoba Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "Students' best advice for candidates and for the provincial government is to prioritise poverty reduction. A good way to begin is investing in education."

The Canadian Federation of Students will be meeting with candidates for Premier this week to discuss students' recommendations.

Concluded Sopotiuk: "Universally accessible public education, from childcare through to all levels of post-secondary education, is one of the most important investments governments can make in people and the public good. Education stimulates the economy and helps break the cycle of poverty, and that is exactly why it is crucial to remove barriers like rising tuition fees and student debt."

For a copy of the brief, further information or to arrange an interview, please contact the Canadian Federation of Students�Manitoba.

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