The cost of living in the Lower Mainland and paying for post-secondary tuition is burying students deeper in debt, the MP for Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam heard from the Douglas College Students Union this week.
MP Ron McKinnon was at the Coquitlam campus Thursday to chat with union reps about the new student financing program his Liberal government is rolling out for the next academic year.
The program specifically targets part-time students from middle- or low-income families, who will be eligible for up to $1,800 in non-repayable grants each year as well as up to $10,000 in student loans.
Part-time students with children will also be able to qualify for up to $1,920 in grants — a plank applauded by the student union’s women’s rep, Telka Pesklevits, who noted the nursing program at Douglas will especially benefit from the announcement.
McKinnon, whose daughter attended Douglas College, talked about the difficulty for single moms to return to school; however, he said ongoing retraining to keep up with today’s economy is a reality.
For adult learners, McKinnon spoke about the new Skills Boost plan, which will offer up to $1,600 a year in top-up funding. In addition, adults who are temporarily out of work will now be able to retrain without the fear of losing their EI benefits, he said.
With the economy up and the jobless rate down — and innovation on the rise — students are in a better position now than in past years, McKinnon said.
“How we live and work is constantly changing,” he said. “The economy is changing and we need to change with it. Education needs to be a lifelong pursuit.”
McKinnon, who traced his academic journey from a government weather observer to law student, physics and math graduate, computer technician and politician, spoke of his mother’s path: at 60, she obtained her history degree.
He said the Liberals are making strides to make post-secondary studies more accessible and noted other federal affordability initiatives like the redesigned Canada Child Benefit and National Housing Strategy.
Still, the provincial government has a part to play to bring down the cost of housing and transit, he said.
The students union acknowledged the federal efforts but also voiced concern about interest rates for student loans; one part-time student told McKinnon they “penalize” new graduates entering the workforce.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
