2020 PRE-BUDGET SUBMISSION PREPARED BY THE CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS - NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR PRE-BUDGET SUBMISSION 2020 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Canadian Federation of Students and its Accordingly, the Canadian Federation of Students - predec essor organizations have been the democratic Newfoundland and Labrador make the following voice of Canada's university and college students for recommendations for policy changes that will help over e ighty years. Today, the Federation unites over reduce financial barriers accessible post-secondary 500,00 0 university and college students across Canada, education and improve the quality of post-secondary includi ng over 27,000 students enrolled in public post- institutions in the province: SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS second ary institutions in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Fe deration welcomes the opportunity to provide RECOMMENDATION 1: Reinstate the tuition freeze for both domestic input on the Government of Newfoundland and and international students at all public post- Labrador's budgetary visions. secondary institutions in Newfoundland and The provincial budget determines the priorities of the Labrador. government and plays an essential role in promoting the RECOMMENDATION 2: economic and social prosperity of Newfoundland and Reinstate the full need-based grant system in Newfoundland and Labrador. Labrador. Although many areas can benefit from government investment, there can be no higher priority RECOMMENDATION 3: Establish core funding to ensure all rural than investing in our collective future through post- campuses of Memorial University and the College secondary education. In order for Newfoundland and of the North Atlantic have access to an Labrador to build a strong and qualified labour force independent sexual harassment office. that has the ability to compete in a knowledge-based RECOMMENDATION 4: Establish earmarked funding for students & global economy, the provincial government must make a student groups developing campaigns, resources significant investment in transforming public services and initiatives to address sexualized violence in that can deliver an educated, highly skilled and Newfoundland and Labrador such as: innovative workforce. the facilitation of support groups that are culturally appropriate; counselling services on all Barriers to post-secondary education must be campus; and a Trans Resource Health Centre.. understood in terms of both gaining access to post- FEES secondary education and the ability to persist in the TUITION completion of one’s studies. Truly accessible post- TEXTBOOKS secondary education means being able to afford all MATERIALS associated costs of delaying entry into the workforce-- including tuition, fees, textbooks, materials, and the cost of living. FOOD "Truly accessible post- Equity cannot be achieved by making investments that secondary education means HOUSING being able to afford all benefit a minority of individuals to access postsecondary associated costs of delaying CHILDCARE education. Increases in tuition fees are the result of entry into the workforce-- FOREGONE INCOME successive provincial governments incrementally including tuition, fees, textbooks, materials, and the TRANSPORTATION divesting resources from post-secondary education. cost of living" HEALTH/DENTAL Canada is one of the most educated countries in the world, however, people from lower-income backgrounds continue to be under-represented in Universities. PRE-BUDGET SUBMISSION 2020 REINSTATE THE TUITION FREEZE FOR BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AT ALL PUBLIC POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS IN NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR with the goal of progressively reducing tuition fees to the point of elimination. Differential fees mask the government's divestment of As the tuition fee advantage at Memorial University resources from our post-secondary institutions. The continues to be deliberately deteriorated by partial dissolution of the tuition freeze has resulted in a policymakers, international students are highly likely to 30% increase in tuition fees for out-of-province and look over Memorial and Newfoundland and Labrador international students at Memorial University; making for larger urban centres, especially when combined with international student tuition fees 4.5x the cost of the remote location, relatively high cost of travel and domestic student tuition fees. Implementing accessible challenging climate. Any policy to attract international post-secondary education requires the political will of students will be greatly hindered while differential the government to prioritize education and social tuition fees are in place. Increasing tuition fees for services. The high cost of living and low minimum wage international students at MUN by 30% is counter- 2 in Newfoundland and Labrador are some of the many intuitive of the goals in The Way Forward, which aims to barriers to retaining skilled graduates in the province. attract and retain more immigrants by making it easier Reinstating the tuition freeze for both domestic and for newcomers to come to this province and by allowing international students with the goal of progressively them to make social and economic contributions. reducing tuition fees to the point of elimination is a International and out-of-province students can not be pivotal step in mitigating the barriers that prevent used to compensate for deficits within our post- students from completing their studies and ultimately secondary institutions. deciding to stay and meaningfully contribute to the Even though the Government of Newfoundland and provincial economy. Labrador has taken important steps to improve student A study completed by MUN’s Faculty of Education, financial assistance, average student debt remains at Matriculating Eastward: Maritime Student Migration to approximately $20,000. Starting a life post-graduation Newfoundland and Labrador, 1 examined why an with student debt limits other economic milestones. In increasing number of students from Nova Scotia, New 2017, only 15% of Newfoundland and Labradorians Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island chose to study at reported a high likelihood of making a major purchase. 3 Memorial University. It concluded that a comprehensive The Canadian Association of University Teachers reports choice of programs, a strong reputation, and low tuition that while tuition fees in Newfoundland and Labrador fees were the primary reasons. In particular, the study may be among the lowest in the country, more students found that the enrolment of students from Nova Scotia from the province are forced into debt than the national 4 increased by nearly 100%, where tuition fees are more average. Additionally, UBC researcher Dr. Lori McElroy than double those in Newfoundland and Labrador. It found that students with little or no debt were more further showed that from 2000 to 2007, the number of than twice as likely to finish their degrees than students Newfoundland and Labrador students leaving to study with high levels of debt. The completion rate for in the Maritime provinces decreased by 54 percent. students with under $1,000 of debt was 71 percent, These benefits are at risk as out-of-province students while the completion rate for those with over $10,000 no longer have a tuition freeze and fees continue to was 34 percent. Though education should act as a social increase. equalizer, the burden of tuition fees weighs far more heavily on the budgets of the poorest Canadians. 1. Kirby, D., Greene, M., Bourgeois, M., & Sharpe, D. (2011). Matriculating Eastward: Maritime Student Migration to Newfoundland & Labrador 2. The Way Forward Plan. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.gov.nl.ca/thewayforward/ 3. Almanac of Post-Secondary Education 2019. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.caut.ca/latest/publications/almanac 4. McElroy, L. A. (2005). Student aid and university persistence: Does debt matter?. Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation.Chicago PRE-BUDGET SUBMISSION 2020 REINSTATE THE FULL NEED BASED GRANTS PROGRAM IN NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR. In 2014, Newfoundland and Labrador eliminated The 2017 Newfoundland and Labrador Vital Signs report provincial student loans for an entire cohort of students. found that children raised by parents from the bottom This need-based grant program was championed for fifth income distribution were less likely to rise to the top choosing to invest and prioritize the social and economic fifth (8.7%), and more likely to stay in the bottom fifth 8 conditions for students in Newfoundland and Labrador, (32.1%), than that national average. which further enabled students to study and 5 The growing interest in accessible post-secondary meaningfully contribute to the economy. education is driven in part by a desire for equity. Does The cost of tuition fees is one of the largest barriers to every student in Newfoundland and Labrador have post-secondary education and disproportionately affects equal access to postsecondary education, regardless of those who cannot afford the user fee up front. Students their families’ circumstances? Further to this, is from lower income families are inclined to rely on Newfoundland and Labrador providing sufficient tools student loans and effectively pay more than those who and opportunities to build a strong and qualified labour can pay up front. This is due to the interest associated force required to be competitive in a knowledge-based with loans being twice and three times the principle global economy? amount. Access is one part of the story. The