OTTAWA, Feb. 7, 2014 /CNW/ - Students will be available to comment on the 2014 Federal Budget immediately following its release on Tuesday, February 11. During pre-budget consultations, the Canadian Federation of Students recommended restoring federal funding for post-secondary education to 1992 levels, redirecting funding from education tax credits and savings schemes into upfront grants, reducing existing student debt, and strengthening financial support for Aboriginal students.
THE FACTS:
- National student debt has surpassed $15 billion and is expected to surpass $19 billion before the end of next year.
- Tuition fees in Canada range from $2,649 (Newfoundland and Labrador) to $7,180 (Ontario) and have increased at five times the rate of inflation since the mid 1990s.
- More than 205,000 Canadians were unable to make any payments on their student loans in 2013, an increase of 10 percent over 2012.
- More than 20,000 First Nations students are currently on a waiting list to receive funding to pursue post-secondary education. Annual funding increases have been capped at 2 percent since 1996.
| WHAT: | Canadian Federation of Students responds to 2014 Federal Budget |
| DATE: | Tuesday, February 11, 2014 |
| TIME: | 4:00 p.m. |
| PLACE: | Parliament Hill, Centre Block |
| WHO: | Adam Awad, Media Relations: 613-979-6622 |
The Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's largest student organisation, uniting more than one-half million students in all ten provinces. The Federation and its predecessor organisations have represented students in Canada since 1927.
SOURCE: Canadian Federation of Students
Jessica McCormick, National Chairperson, 613-816-7486 (cell)
Adam Awad, Media Relations, 613-979-6622 (cell)
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