WINNIPEG--Students' Union Presidents from the Collége Universitaire de Saint-Boniface, Brandon University, the University of Winnipeg, and the University of Manitoba, as well as the Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Manitoba, launched an effort today to collect the names of supportive former and current student leaders on an open letter to Premier Greg Selinger and Advanced Education and Literacy Minister Diane McGifford. The open letter, which will be sent to Members of the Legislative Assembly, calls on the provincial government to reject proposals to drastically increase University of Manitoba tuition fees.

"These unprecedented proposals for tuition fee increases will have a drastic and devastating impact on accessibility to post-secondary education in Manitoba" said Alanna Makinson, Manitoba Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Manitoba. "These proposals are now in the hands of Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger and it's time for our government to show leadership. It's time for Premier Selinger to decisively reject these outrageous proposals, just as students, faculty, staff and the public have done."The Council on Post-Secondary Education met last night to vote on a confidential recommendation to the Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy on the University's proposals for massive tuition fee increases.

"These proposals will not only have an impact on students at the University of Manitoba, but also students across the entire province" said Jade Visser, President of Brandon University Students' Union. "Students at Brandon University often go on to a second degree in a professional program at the University of Manitoba. Allowing these massive increases to go through would be a direct attack on rural students, rural families and the entire province as a whole."

Motions in opposition to these increases were passed by the provincial convention of the New Democratic Party, the Canadian University of Public Employees (CUPE) Manitoba, the University of Manitoba Faculty Association the Manitoba Organization of Faculty Associations, along with countless other students' organizations. These groups have come out in opposition to the massive tuition fee increase proposals and have called on the provincial government to reject them. In addition to the above groups, both the University of Manitoba Students' Union and University of Manitoba Graduate Students' Association unanimously passed motions in opposition to the proposals at recent council meetings.

The six students' organizations whose leaders have signed on to the open letter collectively represent over 42,000 University students across the province. Students now await a decision from the Premier Selinger's government on the proposals.

To view the open letter and it's current signatories, or for more information and updates on the campaign, visit itsourfuture.ca - the website for the anti-fee hike campaign.