Budget 2007 ‘The building budget’

New provincial budget continues to support post-secondary education

JENELLE PETRINCHUK STAFF

Released April 4, 2007, and entitled “The Building Budget,” the new provincial budget for 2007 provides $10.2 million dollars in bursaries and scholarships and officially implements a 60 per cent tax rebate for students who remain in Manitoba after graduation.

In addition, the 2006-07 projected five per cent increase in funding to post-secondary education ended up rising to seven per cent.

“In terms of education, it’s a step in the right direction,” said president of the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) Garry Sran. “We’re definitely pleased.”

According to Greg Selinger, Minister of Finance, the new budget focuses on the province’s priorities and long-term goals that include “affordable, quality education and training, . . . making Manitoba a more attractive place for youth” and initiatives that include a greener economy, building roads and highways, addressing environmental issues and improving health care.

“When we came into office, our hospitals, schools and universities were under terrible strain, requiring significant reinvestment to make up for years of under-funding and neglect,” announced Selinger, during the 2007 Manitoba Budget Address.

“University and college enrolment is up by one-third in Manitoba, supported by a 10 per cent tuition reduction for students,” he said.

Selinger announced the continuation of the 10 per cent tuition reduction in the new budget and added, “and, as we have done in every year, we are providing fully offsetting revenue to universities and colleges, tied directly to enrolment — a total of $95 million since 2000.”

In 2006, the provincial government announced a $60 million commitment to post-secondary education to be carried out over three years. Last year’s budget had promised a five per cent finding increase for 2007-08, but the province will actually increase funding by seven per cent.

“We were disappointed that the recent federal budget did not fully restore the post-secondary education funding that was cut beginning in 1996,” said Selinger,

Sran said that UMSU is going to continue pressuring the federal government for funding and will try to make sure the amounts allotted to post-secondary education in the 2007 federal budget will be implemented in 2008.

“The Canadian Federation of Students commends the Doer government for listening to Manitoba students and their families,” stated Rachel Gotthilf, Manitoba representative for the Canadian Federation of Students in a press release on the “good news.”

“Students will benefit from the 2007 provincial budget, both in the quality of education and accessibility, but we will continue to lobby all parties in Manitoba for affordable high quality post-secondary education,” stated Gotthilf, who is also vice-president (external) for UMSU.

“We’re pleased the government lived up to its promises,” said Sran.

The new budget also includes a pledge of up to $25 million to the University of Winnipeg and investments in Red River College’s new Princess Street campus.

Officially implemented with the new budget is a tax rebate of up to 60 per cent of a graduate’s tuition over six years if they remain in the province. The plan, modeled after a similar initiative in New Brunswick, is meant to keep youth in Manitoba, while helping to relieve tuition costs.

Saskatchewan’s 2007-08 budget also includes a graduate tax exemption for up to $10,000 per year, or $50,000 during the first five years after a student graduates.

In addition to funding for post-secondary education, $400 million has been allotted for the province’s highways, $423 million will be invested in public schools and funding for a new hospital in Selkirk, and renovations to current facilities around Manitoba will be provided.