Canada's Future: Free Tuition

Should post-secondary education be free in British Columbia? The answer is yes. Education is a basic right, and should be available to everyone, not just the people who can afford it. Could you imagine living in a society where health care was only available to those who could afford it? Our economy is changing rapidly, and more opportunities should be provided to allow this generation, and generations to come, access to education so that they could thrive not just in our economy but the global economy as well.   Free tuition is a good idea because it is an investment in our future as a nation, and it would offer a solution to sky rocketing student debt as well as the financial barriers facing students attending post-secondary school.

Glenn Burley and Adam Awad illuminate some very sobering facts in The Impact of student Debt:

 “From 1990 to 2014, national average tuition fees have seen an inflation-adjusted increase of over 155%. The broader effects of high levels of student debt on both the individual and the general economy are now becoming obvious:

•             30% of medical students expect to graduate with over $100,000 in student debt;

•             42% of Canadians under 30 years old still live in their parent’s home—up 15% from 1981;

•              Those with student debt have a lower net worth, fewer assets, and are less likely to have savings or investments compared to debt-free peers. Starting out with massive debt and facing a weak labour market, many graduates are struggling to fully participate in the Canadian economy.”

By investing in those seeking a higher education, instead of indebting them, we are investing in the future of Canada and its citizens.

We can make education a priority by supporting campaigns like “Squash the Squeeze”, a movement created by BC students to fight some of the barriers we face and make higher education accessible to all. The provincial government can help make this a reality by making the following changes;

– Eliminating Interest on Student Loans

– Restoring the Needs Based Grants Program

– Decreasing Tuition Fees

– Increasing Funding to public post-secondary institutions

Visit squashthesqueeze.ca to learn more and to sign the petition.