ISSUEI3

WHAT THE GOVERNMENT SAYS...

VOLUME 13

Improvements in Post— Secondary FUnding Needed

From the Secretary of ' State of Canada, Gerald A. Regan

Many students, along with university and college adndnistrators-and faculty nenbers, are concerned about the future of government funding for our universities and _ conmunity colleges. As Secretary of State; I share this concern, and I am conmitted to work to inpmove the methods by which government funding for post—secondary 'education is provided.

When I net with student leaders from the Ottawa area on October 29, 1981, I assured them that claims that the Federal government would Hake massive cutbacks in its support for post- secondary education were untrue. The budget presented by the Minister of Finance to the House of Commons on November 12 confirms the strength of the Federal Government's support for our colleges and universities.

The Federal Government's Contribution to Education

The governnent of Canada shoulders the major cost of post—secondary education. Under the 1977 agreement, the national government is contributing over $3 billion to the operating costs of pest— secondary education in 1981—82. _That amounts approximately to 56 per cent of the total operating costs of post- secondary institutions.

The Government of Canada also contributes over $2 billion for student loans, research grants, occupational training and other items involved in post-secondary' and other education.

These are the facts. Unfortunately,,Canada's 1.5 million full and part "tine students atending universities and connmnity colleges have been'often fed rumours and distortions

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by parties employing scare tactics for political ends. .The Liberal Commitment to Education

The liberal Party has a tradition of strong support for higher education, and this support has been demon— strated by our actions as well as by our words.

The Liberal govern— ment initiated direct

-support for post-secondary

institutions in 1951. It was the Liberal governnent which agreed in 1967 to provide funding directly to provinces to operate post—secondary instit— utions according to the local and regional needs of the provinces.

The action of the Liberal governments wade it possible for new educational facilities to emerge in all provinces. In Ontario alone, Lake— head University, Laurentian University, Trent University, and Brock University have evolved as najor educational institutions. _

As Premier of Nova‘ Scotia, I demonstrated my support for higher education because I believed that money spent on a high quality of education was an invest- ment in the future of my province. I continue to believe in the priority of post—secondary education and my goal as Secretary of State is to work to strengthen government' for higher education in this country, and to improve the ability of our universities and colleges to meet national objectives. _ _r Federal Government Concerns

At the same time, the Federal governnent is concerned about present arrangements for the funding of post-secondary education. we are ‘7 concerned about the increasing share of the support for post—secondary education which the Federal government is paying through transfers

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to the provinces, and the .decreasing share of the operating cost of pest secondary institutions being paid by some provinces. If an increasing amount of available ' Federal funds continues ‘ to be used in this ‘manner, there will be »< correSpondingly less money available for direct Federal programs designed to achieve national goals and objectives.

Likewise, the Government of Canada wants greater assurances from provincial govern- ments that Honey from the national treasury is actually being spent on post—seconday education. Under the present arrangement, there is no . accountability or visibility for the Governments of Canada's contribution to the provinces for post

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secondary education. The Future of Post Secondary Education

In the innediate future, I am under— taking a Comprehensive review of federal support for post— secondary education. I will be consulting with university and college administrators, students and faculty members, as well as with the provinces, in order to deternune the best ways to improve government support for post— secondary education.

With the support of the university and college conmunities, I am confident that it will be possible for me to worl together with the provinces to reach an agreement for improving the funding and the very structure of post

rsecondary education.

Photo by Augustine Hii Lou Ping