UCalgary students say post-secondary overlooked in latest budget

Some post-secondary students in Alberta are taking aim at the province’s latest budget amid ongoing tuition hikes.

Nicole Schmidt, president of the University of Calgary Students’ Union, is taking issue with some of the claims being made about the budget, saying it doesn’t support every Albertan.

“The finance minister stated this is a budget for every Albertan who needs a hand up and this clearly isn’t applicable to students who need work support or tuition relief,” said Schmidt.

She says students have already seen a 25 per cent increase in tuition over the last three years, with more increases approved in the 2022 fiscal plan.

UCalgary students have seen their tuition rise by more than 25% over the last four years as a result of deep provincial cuts. The Minister approved tuition increases in programs, like UCalgary Engineering, of more than 30% for students enrolling this fall.https://t.co/4XBx6gmls6 pic.twitter.com/vY8AGyZnBk

— University of Calgary Students' Union (@SUUofC) February 24, 2022

In 2021, the University of Calgary Board of Governors approved a proposal to increase both tuition and fees for the upcoming academic year, starting in September 2022.

With recent budget cuts, once more, the study body is asking for more transparency and accountability in providing students with an affordable education.

“After several consecutive years of deep cuts to post-secondary institutions, totaling more than $600 million across the province, the government has failed to step up for students once again,” a statement posted by the students’ union reads in part. “Now is the time to re-invest in post-secondary education and ensure that students and graduates stop leaving the province and, instead, remain in Alberta.”

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Schmidt notes in the statement that the Alberta government needs to do more to help students in this province, adding the UCP must “step up and fund it” if it’s “serious about maintaining a quality post-secondary system.”

“Students are seeing a decline in the quality of their education while paying significantly more tuition. The blame lies directly at the feet of this government. It’s not surprising young people are fleeing Alberta,” Schmidt said.

Meanwhile, the SU is also calling on the provincial government to do more to support student employment, noting not enough is being done.

“The government has made it difficult for students to find summer employment,” Schmidt added in a statement. “The UCP is raising costs for students and not providing any support to help cover those skyrocketing bills. The Premier ran on a promise of jobs, he and his team have broken that promise to students.”