OTTAWA--Recommendations contained in the report titled Pact for the Competitive Financing of our Universities, released today, would lead to skyrocketing student debt for Québec students.

"At a time when a post-secondary education is almost a pre-requisite for meaningful participation in today's economy, governments should not be further restricting access to college and university," said Katherine Giroux-Bougard, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "Saddling students with more debt will have far reaching implications for Québec's economy and socio-economic equality."

Universities in Québec are currently the most affordable in the country with tuition fees that are less than half the Canadian average. Students graduate with the lowest debt in any province and Québec has the most effective student financial aid system in Canada. As a result, student debt is the lowest in Canada and Québec has the highest proportion of the population enrolled in post-secondary education of any province.

"In these tough times Québec should be looking at how to remain a leader in affordable education, not competing in a race to the bottom" said Giroux-Bougard.Founded in 1981, the Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's largest student organisation, uniting more that one-half million students in all ten provinces. Students in Canada have been represented by the Canadian Federation of Students and its predecessor organisations since 1927.