Think Education

2006 ELECTION EDUCATION QUESTIONNAIRE

All the major political parties seem to be talking about the importance of post-secondary education in one way or another. But, campaign platforms and promises are often vague. How are voters to know where the parties stand on the specific issues that affect students and their institutions? That's why we've sent a detailed questionaire to all major political parties. It contains 9 questions and is designed to be a tool for comparing the positions of the various parties on post-secondary education. The questionnaire will help voters thinking about education in this election make the right choice for them. The responses by parties were posted in the order in which they were received. The Bloc Quebecois have not yet responded to our questionnaire.

Click here to download a copy of the questionnaire in English, click here for the French version.

Green Party
Conservative Party of Canada
New Democratic Party
Liberal Party of Canada

Green Party

1. What does your party sees as the main issue facing post-secondary students in Canada today?

The Green Party feels that the greatest issue facing post-secondary students is the federal government's constant threat of turning post-secondary education into a privilege rather than a right. We recognize the organizing of college and university students in response to this, the campaigns launched calling for quality, accessible education. Student demands have been heard by Canadians who see education as a top priority. But in Ottawa, these demands have fallen on deaf ears.

2.Will your party commit to working with the provinces to improve the system through the establishment of a Pan-Canadian Accord on Post-secondary education?

Yes

The Green Party of Canada is committed to working with the provinces and higher learning institutions to reduce post-secondary tuitions as a nation. The Green Party would make this commitment by signing a Contract with Youth to improve post-secondary accessibility.

3. Will your party commit to restoring funding for post-secondary education through the creation of an independent dedicated education transfer? If so, what do you see as the amount of such a transfer?

Yes

The funding would be allocated through the Contract with Youth to improve post-secondary accessibility and tailored to meet the growing needs of students across the country.

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4. Will your party commit to a holistic review of Canada's student financial assistance system in order to improve the accessibility and affordability of post-secondary education? How would your party like to see the system reformed?

Yes.

Accountability, accessibility and adequate funding are what Canada's education system demands. The Green Party sees education as instrumental in developing creativity and equality as the foundation of safe and healthy communities. Education is not an expense, it is an investment.

5. How will your party address the affordability of post-secondary education and the problem of student debt?

As mentioned above, access to education is the challenge to which the Canadian government must rise. Tuition must be frozen and subsequently reduced, and it is necessary to create a plan to provide needs-based grants to address the student debt crisis.

6. What will your party do to improve accessibility for low-income students so that all Canadians can achieve their full potential? Will your party commit to extending the Canada Access Grant for low-income students to all years of study, and insure that this grant covers all costs of education, not simply tuition?

Issues of accessibility are the most pressing facing the Canadian post-secondary student body today. The Green Party recognizes the need to freeze and subsequently reduce tuition fees across the country, as well as creating needs-based grants to address the student debt crisis. The Canadian government can fund an accessible post-secondary education system.

7. Skills and training in the trades are important components of lifelong learning through post-secondary education.

What will your party do to assist those who chose to go into the trades and skills training?

To emphasize the importance of quality trades and skills training, the Green party would work to boost participation in cooperative education programs and apprenticeships.

8. How will your party attract students to graduate studies to promote lifelong learning and to ensure that our universities and colleges are able to effectively respond to the demands of Canadians?

The Green party would work to assist students by providing flexible training and education to make life-long learning more accessible. An increase in investment in post-secondary education to ensure that public funding plays a major role in research and development initiatives are also proposed in order to improve the government's responsiveness to the demands of Canadian students.

9. The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation provides post-secondary students will 90,000 needs-based bursaries every year. The Foundation's endowment will expire in 2009, which will affect the thousands of studentswho rely on the bursaries to fund their education.

Will your party commit to renewing the Foundation? If so, what changes to the Foundation would you make? If not, how will your party address the needs of students currently receiving the Millennium bursaries?

The Green party believes that the Millennium Scholarship Fund can be transformed into an important tool to provide students with much-needed bursaries and to address the debt crisis currently being faced by students. We propose a harmonization of such government programs as the Millennium initiative to provide a single need-based grant program to reduce student debt.

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Conservative Party of Canada

1. What does your party see as the main issue facing post-secondary students in Canada today?

We believe that mounting debt and the high cost of tuition is impeding accessibility to post-secondary education in Canada. In order to improve accessibility and make post-secondary education more affordable a Conservative government would introduce a tax credit for students or their parents on spending of up to $500 to help cover the costs of textbooks. We would also work cooperatively with the provinces to increase family income thresholds for student loan eligibility and exempt the first $10,000 of student scholarship or bursary income from taxation.

2. Will your party commit to working with the provinces to improve the system through the establishment of a Pan-Canadian Accord on Post-Secondary Education?

The Conservative Party of Canada respects provincial jurisdiction over post-secondary education and is committed to working cooperatively to ensure that federal programming in this area is ample and effectual. The most important component of cooperation in this area is to bring balance to the fiscal relationship between the federal government, and provincial-territorial governments. We believe that only through a long term, comprehensive agreement which addresses both the vertical and horizontal fiscal imbalance can matters such as the funding of post-secondary education be properly addressed.

A Conservative Government will remove post-secondary education funding from the Canada Social Transfer and create an independent Canada Education and Training Transfer. The Transfer will be funded at a base level and increased annually according to inflation and demographic growth. The Transfer will be negotiated with the provinces and territories to ensure the funding is targeted to post-secondary education.

4. Will your party commit to a holistic review of Canada's student financial assistance system in order to improve the accessibility and affordability of postsecondary education? How would your party like to see the system reformed?

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A Conservative government would introduce improvements to the Canada Student Loans Program, including lowering the expected parental contribution rates for middle income families. Implementation of these initiatives will be done in consultation with the provinces.

5. How will your party address the affordability of post-secondary education and the problem of student debt?

As mentioned above, a Conservative government would introduce a tax credit for students or their parents on spending of up to $500 to help cover the costs of textbooks. We would also work cooperatively with the provinces to increase family income thresholds for student loan eligibility and exempt the first $10,000 of student scholarship or bursary income from taxation. The introduction of the Canada Education and Training Transfer and restoring balance to the fiscal relationship between the federal government and provincial-territorial governments will result in increased post-secondary education accessibility and affordability.

6. What will your party do to improve accessibility for low-income students sothat all Canadians can achieve their full potential? Will your party commit to extending the Canada Access Grant for low-income students to all years of study, and ensure that this grant covers all costs of education, not simply tuition?

During the mid-nineties the federal Liberal government cut billions of dollars in transfers to the provinces which limited provincial investment in post-secondary education and caused dramatic increases in tuition costs. These tuition increases have resulted in heavy student debt for many Canadian students and graduates. Unfortunately, this has also prevented some bright and talented Canadians from pursuing post-secondary education.

We believe that progressive changes to the Canada Student Loan Program, and changes to the tax system making books more affordable and allowing students to keep more of the money they receive from scholarships and bursaries will definitely help more Canadians from all backgrounds achieve their goal of receiving a university or college education.

7. Skills training and the trades are important components of lifelong learning through post-secondary education.

What will your party do to assist those who chose to go into the trades and skills
training?

The Conservative Party of Canada believes that education and training is the single most effective investment in the future prosperity of Canadians. While opportunities in the skilled trades are limitless, many young Canadians find themselves stuck in low-paying work and are either not encouraged to consider the trades, or unable to do so because of financial barriers. For the sake of Canada's economy and our quality of life, the federal government must recognize and promote the trades.

In order to help Canadian students to meet the financial challenges of attending university and technical college the Conservative Party of Canada has announced a number of initiatives. We have a comprehensive trades policy which includes a Tools Tax Deduction for up to $500 spent on tools; a $1,000 Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for two years for apprentices in approved programs; and an Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit of 10 per cent of an apprenticeship's wages for two years to a maximum of $2,000.

The text book tax credit for students or their parents on spending of upto $500 to help cover the costs of textbooks can be used by students attending technical and vocational training schools.

To ensure Canada's competitiveness in the global marketplace we must
provide more opportunities for students to pursue graduate studies. A
Conservative government would work cooperatively with the provinces to address this challenge. We believe that improving the funding structure to universities and restoring balance to the fiscal relationship between the provinces and the federal government will go a long way in helping universities enhance both under-graduate and graduate program opportunities, thus contributing to the pool of Canada's future
professors.

A Conservative government would be committed to working with the provinces to enhance research opportunities at Canada's universities which will help to improve faculty retention and recruitment. Research at Canada's universities helps to drive our economy and improve our lives. In this era of increasing global competitiveness we must ensure that Canada's universities have the resources they need to continue this valuable contribution to Canadian society. A Conservative government will continue to fund research through the granting councils and will work toward improving the percentage of GDP invested in research and development at Canada's universities.

A Conservative government would continue to fund the indirect costs of research and would look forward to discussing an increase in the funding level of the Indirect Costs program. We recognize that Canada's universities are global leaders in research and we are committed to seeing that continue.

9. The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation provides post-secondary students with 90,000 needs-based bursaries every year. The Foundation's endowment will expire in 2009, which will affect the thousands of students who rely on the bursaries to fund their education.

A Conservative government would review the Millennium Scholarship Program to determine if it is fulfilling its mandate and assisting as many students as possible.

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New Democratic Party

1. What does your party see as the main issue facing post-secondary students in Canada today?

New Democrats think that the main issues facing post-secondary students in Canada are the soaring cost of tuition fees and the increasing debt burden for students. Young adults are burdened with mountains of debt upon graduation like no other generation in our history and that is simply not acceptable. Canada is far behind other nations in ensuring that children and families have access to affordable post-secondary education and lifelong learning opportunities. It's time Canada caught up by fuelling an economy and society to meet the future with confidence and ideas.

2. Will your party commit to working with the provinces to improve the system through the establishment of a Pan-Canadian Accord on Post-Secondary Education?

The NDP is committed to working with the provinces to improve the accessibility of post-secondary education for all Canadians. New Democrats will work with all the provinces and territories to provide stable, predictable funding for post-secondary education.

3. Will your party commit to restoring funding for post-secondary education through the creation of an independent dedicated education transfer? If so, what do you see the amount of such transfer?

The NDP is committed, as finances permit, to restore the $4 billion in cuts Paul Martin made to transfer payments for post-secondary education in the 1990s.

4. Will your party commit to holistic review of Canada's student financial assistance system in order to improve the accessibility and affordability of post secondary education? How would your party like to see the system reformed?

The NDP is committed to re-examine the Canada Student Loans Program to create a comprehensive program designed to improve access and reduce the
burden of student debt.

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5. How will your party address the affordability of post-secondary education and the problem of student debt?

See answers to questions 3 and 4. Also, New Democrats are in favour of eliminating the ten year moratorium on declaring bankruptcy because of student loans. On October 20th, 2004 NDP MP Alexa McDonough introduced a Private Member's Bill C-236, An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, which aims to end discrimination against students who want to declare bankruptcy. Under the current legislation, students who declare bankruptcy within 10 years of leaving post-secondary education don't have their student-loan debt cancelled. McDonough's bill, which had its second reading on Feb. 28 2005, would reduce that time frame to two years. The bill would allow students saddled with high levels of debt to consider filing for bankruptcy sooner. The Liberals and Conservatives voted against the bill.

6. What will your party do to improve accessibility for low-income students so all Canadians can achieve their full potential? Will your party commit to extending the Canada Access Grant for low-income students to all years of study and insure that this grant covers all costs of education, not simply tuition?

Yes.

7. What will your party do to assist those who chose to go into the trades and skills training?

The NDP is aware that many job openings in the coming decade do not require a full four-year degree. This is why we are committed to expand access to all kinds of training including university, college and apprenticeship programs.

8. How will you party attract students to graduate studies to promote lifelong learning and to ensure that our universities and colleges are able to effectively respond to the demands of Canadians?

New Democrats believe in postsecondary education as a way to build a strong and prosperous economy. We will work with the provinces and territories to ensure stable, long term funding to build the infrastructure necessary to educate significantly more graduate students over the next four years.

9. Will yourparty commit to renewing the Foundation? If so, what changes to the Foundation would you make? If not, how will your party address the needs of students currently receiving Millennium bursaries?

The NDP has always asked for the replacement of the Millennium Scholarship Fund with needs-based grants so that a family's income isn't a barrier to a student's future.

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Liberal Party of Canada

1. What does your party see as the main issue facing post-secondary students in Canada today?

In its Economic and Fiscal Update of November 2005 the Liberal government addressed some of the main issues facing post secondary students.

We have committed to review of the financial assistance system to ensure students from all backgrounds have access to higher education. In addition to this we extended the Canada Access Grants to help more low income students with their financial support for their program of study. We have also committed additional money to encourage more students to study abroad, and encourage more international students to choose Canada as their international destination for their studies.

As well, in the November Economic Update the Liberal government committed an additional $1 billion for post secondary infrastructure renewal and committed $1.2 billion to increase the percentage of indirect costs of research to the threshold of 40 percent.

2. Will your party commit to working with the provinces to improve the system through the establishment of a Pan-Canadians Accord on Post-Secondary Education?

The Liberal government respects provincial and territorial jurisdiction over education. However, it also understands that Canadians expect the federal and provincial governments to work together to provide the best post-secondary education system possible. The Liberal government welcomes the call from the premiers to work in partnership and would be pleased to collaborate to identify priorities and address challenges for PSE.

3. Will your party commit to restoring funding for post-secondary education through the creation of an independent dedicated education transfer? If so, what do you see as the amount of such a transfer?

The Government of Canada is a significant and long-standing partner in post-secondary education. The current Liberal government contributes over $7 billion per year in cash transfers to provincial and territorial governments and through a range of programs to support students and research.

As for transfers, they are but one way in which the Federal government currently supports PSE. The Liberal government will continue to work collaboratively with its provincial and territorial partners to discuss the most appropriate way to support access to PSE institutions. In 2005-06, the Liberal government will provide over $14 billion through the CST, including $7.1 billion in cash and $7 billion in tax transfers.

As outlined in the November 2005 Economic and Fiscal Update, the Liberal government committed $2.2 billion over the nextfive years to improve student financial assistance. This will include a review in close collaboration withthe provinces and territories and other partners to identify those areas where additional investments are needed.

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5. How will your party address the affordability of post-secondary education and the problem of student debt?

The Liberal government is aware of the concern of the rising costs of post-secondary education. As a result, the Liberal government created a variety of initiatives to ensure PSE is affordable to all Canadians. These initiatives include the creation of the Millennium Scholarship Foundation, Canada Study Grant, Canada Access Grant and the Canada Learning Bond.

As part of the Economic and Fiscal Update of November 2005, the Liberal government proposed to extend the Canada Access Grant up to 4 years of study from the current first year. As well, we proposed to double the number of Canada Graduate Scholarships over the next 5 years to support 6,000 graduate students each year. These proposals are on top of our commitment for an additional $2.2 billion over the next 5 years to improve the student financial assistance program where we find the greatest need for help through a review conducted in consultation with PSE stakeholders.

In addition to this upfront support for students, the Liberal government made a variety of changes to the student loan system to allow loan holders a variety of supports to manage their debt. These supports included improved access to interest relief, increasing the maximum amount of Debt Reduction in Repayment to $26,000 and extending access to debt management measures to those borrowers who need to declare bankruptcy.

6. What will your party do to improve accessibility for low-income students so that all Canadians can achieve their full potential? Will your party commit to extending the Canada Access grants for low-income students to all years of study, and insure that this grant covers all costs of education, not simply tuition?

In 2004 the Liberal government created the Canada Access Grant for first year low-income students and another for disabled students. In the November 2005 Economic and Fiscal Update we committed to extending this grant to other students in subsequent years. This change will see an additional $110 million per year granted to an additional 55,000 low-income students across Canada.

7. What will your party do to assist those who chose to go into trades and skills training?

In 2003, the Liberal government launched a national marketing campaign to promote skilled trades as first-choice careers to young Canadians, parentsand employers. The Liberal Government is contributing $12 million to this three-year campaign and we are supporting eligible apprentices through Employment Insurance during the in-school portion of apprenticeship training. In 2003-04, the Liberal government spent almost $122 million assisting 45,000 apprentices.
Moreover, as announced in the Economic and Fiscal Update of November 2005, a Liberal government will invest $3.5 billion over this year and the next five years to support new Labour Market Partnership Agreements with provinces and territories. These agreements will focus on increasing workplace-based and employer-led training in several areas including: apprenticeship, literacy and essential skills and workplace skills development. Of our $125 million Workplace Skills Strategy $25 million has been exclusively devoted to trades and apprenticeships.

8. How will your party attract students to graduate studies to promote lifelong learning and to ensure that our universities and colleges are able to effectively respond to the demands of Canadians?

The Liberal government has always been a supporter of graduate students and lifelong learning throughout Canada. In the November 2005 Economic and Fiscal update we committed $210 million over the next 5 years to support a 50 percent increase in the number of Canada Graduate Scholarships. These commitments will double the number of students receiving these scholarships to 6,000 graduate students by the end of the fifth year.

The Liberal government has already implemented the Canada Study Grants, which support high need part-time students and students with dependents. This grant helps people to advance their education at anytime during their life.

In addition, our government has committed to improve access to international education and to enable institutions to participate in international networks. This investment will enable more young Canadians to study abroad and will also encourage more foreign students to study in Canada.

To help universities and colleges respond to the demands of Canadians, the Liberal government has committed $1 billion to the provinces and territories in support of modernizing and improving post-secondary infrastructure.

9. Will your party commit to renewing the Foundation? If so, what changes to the Foundation would you make? If not, how will your party address the needs of students currently receiving Millennium bursaries?

It was the Liberal government that created the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation as a way to improve access to post-secondary education and reduce student debt loads, especially for Canadians most in need. In 2004 almost $294 million was given to Canada's neediest undergraduates. In total, the Foundation has distributed more than $1.4 billion in millennium bursaries and scholarships to high-need students across Canada.

The Millennium Scholarship Foundation plays a significant role in addressing these needs. The Liberal government will continue to examine ways to improve access and affordability to Post-secondary education. This commitment can be seen through the Liberal government's most recent Economic and Fiscal Update which gave an additional $2.2 billion to post-secondary education initiatives.

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