Students Applaud Leadership of Federal Government

Students Applaud Leadership of Federal Government Canada Student Grant Program Established in Federal Budget 2008

Vancouver - Students applauded the creation of Canada's first-ever national system of grants, announced in today's Federal Budget, capping several years of lobbying efforts. The grants program is being introduced as the Millennium Scholarship Foundation mandate comes to an end.

"The government has taken a positive step towards improving access to post-secondary education," said Shamus Reid, BC Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "By implementing a national system of grants, the government has responded to a long standing call by students and their families to reduce student debt."

The 2008 budget provides $350 million for grants to low- and middle-income students starting in 2009, with the total funding rising to $430 million by 2012. The grants will range from $800 to $2,000 per student per year and will be provided to approximately 245,000 students per year.

The Canadian Federation of Students has been calling for an accountable and transparent replacement for the Millennium Scholarship Foundation since the Foundation?s creation in 1998. Average student debt in BC has risen from $18,500 in 2001 to a record-high of $27,000 this year as a result of high tuition fees.

"Today's announcement marks the end of Canada's tenure as one of the few western industrialized nations without a national system of grants," said Amanda Aziz, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "This decision is long overdue."

-30-

For more information, contact:
Shamus Reid, BC Chairperson
604.733.1880 (office)
778.322.7208 (cell)

Amanda Aziz, National Chairperson
(613) 232-7394 (office)
(613) 261-7528 (cell)