Interview with Bruce Hyer, MP for Thunder Bay - Superior North

Since the 1990s, federal government grants as a share of university operating revenue have fallen dramatically, forcing average tuition fees to rise by three times the rate of inflation.

As a result, student debt is now at record levels in Canada, and college and university are becoming increasingly unafforable for low and middle income students.

You've stated in Parliament that the Green Party believes the federal government has a role to play in reducing student debt. How will your party make college and university more affordable for students, and what is the Green Party's plan for reducing student debt in Canada?

Our party believes that it is time to break the status quo on education in Canada and abolish tuition fees for college, university, and skills training programs. Whether Germany, Austria, Norway, Sweden, or Finland, many of the world’s most successful economies have proven that expanding the public education system to include post-secondary increases prosperity, equality, productivity, and economic competitiveness.

We will start investing in Canada’s future by abolishing tuition fees for students without adequate financial means, including removing the inadequate 2 percent annual cap on increased funding for post secondary education for all First Nations and Inuit students. Through consultation and collaboration with provincial governments and universities and colleges, by 2020 we will abolish tuition fees for post-secondary education and skills training for Canadians, guaranteeing that income is never a barrier for qualified students.

It is widely recognized that Canada’s success depends on an educated population, yet we burden youth with tens of thousands of dollars in student debt. As our plan to abolish tuition fees is being phased in, we will invest in the success of current students, jumpstart the Canadian economy, and give our graduates a hand-up by implementing a debt forgiveness program. Our plan will eliminate any existing or future student federal debt above $10,000. We will abolish charging interest on new student loans and will increase available funding for bursaries.