HALIFAX--Students from across the country have voted to oppose the amalgamation, re-distribution, or re-structuring universities that result in program and service elimination at the National General Meeting of the Canadian Federation of Students held last week in Ottawa. All of these options, often called "rationalization", are being considered as part of the Nova Scotia government's review of post-secondary education currently being conducted by former Bank of Montreal executive vice-president Tim O'Neill.

"Governments often look to amalgamate institutions as a means to reduce spending and avoid increasing core funding for post-secondary education," said Gabe Hoogers, Nova Scotia Representative of the Canadian Federation of Students. "There is however no real-world evidence to suggest that large bureaucracies are actually more efficient or cost effective than smaller ones."

In January the provincial government declared Nova Scotia "Canada's University Capital", a campaign aimed at promoting the unique offerings of Nova Scotia's 11universities and attracting additional students to the province. Days later, the government announced a review of post-secondary education that included looking at ways to restructure the university system including a possible reduction in the number of institutions.

"Nova Scotia's universities each offer unique learning environments and program mixes, specialized programs, and distinctive approaches to curriculum not to mention unique campus cultures," said Hoogers. "Students, especially at small institutions, know that restructuring or amalgamating our university system threatens the very quality of our education and university experience."