Canadian Association of University Teachers

 
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Tuition fees rise again

Statistics Canada reports that despite recent increases in federal funding for post-secondary education, full-time undergraduate students are paying an average of 3.6 per cent more in tuition this year.

Across the country, average undergraduate tuition fees are $4,724. Quebec’s students face the largest increase of 5.4 per cent, with students in Ontario and Alberta seeing hikes of 4.7 per cent. Fees fell modestly in Nova Scotia , but students there are still paying the highest tuition in the country at $5,924. Ontario has the second highest fees at $5,643, while students in Newfoundland and Labrador pay just $2,632.

"The fact that so many students are facing substantial fee hikes underscores the need for the federal government and the provinces to work together to lower costs,” said CAUT president Penni Stewart. We have to ensure that federal funding to the provinces for post-secondary education actually goes where it is intended.”

A May 2008 poll by CAUT and the Canadian Federation of Students found that eight out of ten Canadians want university and college tuition fees frozen or lowered.