VP education Craig Mazerolle says high tuition drives students out of the province

Cuts to post-secondary education will do more harm than good, STUSU vice-president education Craig Mazerolle told finance minister Blaine Higgs on Thursday.

“You might save a bit of money in the short-term,” said Mazerolle. “But the long-term cost of putting more and more debt on the backs of students and their families is immense.

“What you are doing is turning provincial debt into personal debt and this will cost the province much more in the long run.”

Mazerolle presented the Students’ Union’s position at the finance minister’s pre-budget consultation. New Brunswick is facing a $820 million deficit. The meeting was open to the public so people could suggest ways to cut costs and increase revenue.

Mazerolle called on the government to do three things: increase the funding to universities, transform the timely competition benefit and tuition rebate program and treat international students fairly because their tuition costs are higher than other students

“One of the major reasons why we see so many people leaving this region is because of student debt,” Mazerolle said, adding that the average Maritime student will graduate with $37,000 in debt.

“We know for a fact that students with high levels of debt are the most likely to leave to go find work elsewhere.”

“It’s not going to be easy,” Higgs said, outlining New Brunswick’s financial and demographic situation.

“If we start the process it will have less of an impact and be less crucial as we go forward because there will be incremental improvements. We know that the action required is immediate.”

But Fredericton city councillor Jordan Graham thinks overcoming student debt isn’t as difficult as most think. A UNB student with more than $50,000 in student loan debt, he says hard work and limited spending will get students on the right track.

“If you manage your finances well, this province has just as much opportunity as any other province in this country. And the sooner we realize that, and stop feeling bad for ourselves the better we’re going to be.”

“I agree,” Higgs said.

“I’m sorry, but the student loan program is very good,” Graham said. He says he doesn’t want tax money subsidising his education.

“We need to be sure students are being prudent with their spending so they’re not borrowing beyond their means and getting themselves into a situation that makes it difficult when they do get out and to pay off no matter where they work. So be responsible in that regard,” Higgs said later in the meeting.

“We need to be responsible as a government to make sure our university fees are fair and equitable so that we are competitive with other jurisdictions.”

After the meeting, Higgs said he wants international students to take advantage of university education in the province but doesn’t “think it’s unusual that [tuition is] higher. To be [from] outside of the country and going to school here. I think that’s a common practice.”

The finance minister said he hasn’t heard a lot from students other than at the meetings in Fredericton and Grand Falls. But what he has heard has been about tuition costs.

This year the tuition freeze the Liberal government had in place will end. David Alward’s Progressive Conservatives are moving forward with a plan to create a four-year tuition schedule so students can plan for the cost of their education.

The provincial budget will be released on Mar. 22. The four-year funding system, which will determine tuition costs, will be negotiated over the next year.