OTTAWA--The New Democratic Party's education platform released earlier today would increase access to post-secondary education and reduce student debt.

"The NDP platform provides meaningful commitments to increase the affordability of post-secondary education," said David Molenhuis, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "With tuition fees at record high levels, Canada needs such a national vision for higher education."Released this morning, the NDP election platform would increase federal funding for post-secondary education by $800 million. In addition, the NDP would adopt a federal post-secondary education act and a dedicated post-secondary education transfer payment which would be contingent on provinces making education affordable through tuition fee freezes and reductions. The NDP platform also proposes increasing funding for student grants by $200 million dollars.

"While both the Liberal and New Democratic Parties have proposed major investments in making college and university affordable, the Conservative Party has offered virtually nothing to address the student debt crisis," added Molenhuis. "With students buried in more than $15 billion of student debt, all political parties need to prioritise affordable education."The Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's largest student organisation, uniting more than one-half million students in all ten provinces. The Canadian Federation of Students and its predecessor organisations have represented students in Canada since 1927.