The new leader of the provincial Liberal Party says education is high on his list of priorities.
“Getting people in school and keeping them here afterwards benefits all of us,” says Brian Gallant. “Not just universities, but trades too.”
Gallant, who only graduated from high school 12 years ago, surprised many when he handily won the Liberal leadership in late October. It will likely be two years before he’ll have a chance to face off against Premier David Alward at the polls.
Gallant called education his third priority after government transparency and the economy.
The Universite de Moncton law graduate wants trades to become put right next to the rest of the province’s schooling in terms of importance.
“We took trades out of schools and we’re paying for it now,” says Gallant. “It’s great for everyone, and great for the companies that want to hire them.”
The Liberal government that preceded the current government had a tuition freeze. Since the Liberals left office, the price of tuition has jumped twice, $200 each time, the maximum allowed increase.
Gallant won’t say if he’ll issue another freeze.
“The issue with a tuition freeze is that there is a backlog,” he says. “I’d much rather have targeted universal assistance.”
According to Gallant, a case-by-case program looking at an individual’s needs would replace the blanket fix of a tuition freeze. It would also eliminate the backlog, which often sees students gouged the second it’s lifted.
“A program like that would see all students pay a little less,” says Gallant.
However, Gallant is not a fan of the way student loans are handed out.. The current system accounts for parent income, and decides for the family how much they should contribute. Based simply on numbers, it’s something that Gallant says need to go.
“It’s not fair to expect that everyone can do that simply based on their numbers,” he says. “I’d get rid of that.”
Gallant says his education policies will be designed to encourage students, whether they graduate with a trades education or university degree, to stay in New Brunswick.
“People love New Brunswick, they love being here. And they love coming back when to us,” says Gallant.
“We’re missing them in the middle and that needs to change.”
