On Campus

Alta. education minister says tuition cap won’t be lifted

However, post-secondary tuition could be increased on a case-by-case basis

Advanced Education Minister Doug Horner says he’s willing to consider increased tuitions for Alberta’s post-secondary programs on a case-by-case basis.

But Horner says he won’t lift the existing cap on tuition increases at the province’s colleges, universities and trade schools.

“The cap is still in place and I’ve not received any proposals from any of the institutions in the post-secondary system about any kind of changes across the board,” Horner told reporters Wednesday.

“In fact I said earlier today that across-the-board massive tuition hikes are just not in the cards.”

Tuitions were frozen in Alberta for several years before the province capped increases in 2006 based on a consumer price index formula.

Horner said there may be cases where programs are being offered at a relatively low cost, so arguments could be made to allow a significant tuition increase.

“What I have suggested to the post secondaries and to the students is if there is a valid, fair and equitable argument that is reasonable, we’re prepared to look at that,” he said.

“But it doesn’t mean there’s an automatic approval.”

The minister said so far, none of Alberta’s post-second institutions has put forward any arguments for such increases.

Horner concluded by saying that Alberta’s tuition rates are going to “stay comparable and compatible with tuition rates in the rest of the country.”

– The Canadian Press

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