The Alberta Progressive Conservative party unveiled its budget last Thursday, and there are plenty of things that should get students interested in the upcoming election.
Post-secondary institutions should look forward to a two per cent increase in operating grants for the next three years.
Greg Weadick, minister of advanced learning and technology, said in an interview following the budget announcement that while schools are looking forward to the increase in available funds, for students it should be viewed as long-term stability.
Although it means there should be fewer cuts in store for programs and staff, the budget didn’t make available any funds for new capital projects.
Another thing Weadick said students should look forward to is capped tuition rates based on inflation.
He said it will be a 1.45 per cent increase next year, compared to the more than two per cent that was estimated.
Weadick said that the ministry is in support of all forms of post-secondary education, and that it is developing a way for students to easily transfer from institutions.
This benefits those who wish to take their two-year diploma into a four-year degree.
“Students can start their dreams, where they want, and also end them where they want,” Weadick said.
Those who pay for their education with student loans will have a new streamlined process in place, at least when dealing with the Alberta Student Loan Service.
Weadick said that the ministry also works with the National Student Loans Service, but is unable to discuss what efforts the NSLS are making in regards to their service.
Weadick is looking forward to at least a lunch and visit during the Alberta Student Executive Council conference taking place in Lethbridge later this month.
He invited students to maintain a dialogue with him and the ministry, and said the conference has led to previous student-borne projects being enacted by the government.
The Summer Temporary Employment Program, or STEP, is one such example.
Graphic by Warren Mitchell
A breakdown of the provincial budget