Jody Pitcher (front), a mother and RDP student, spoke alongside Red Deer-North and Red Deer-South NDP candidates, Jaelene Tweedle (right) and Michelle Baer (middle), and NDP Advanced Education Critic David Eggen at RDP on April 13, 2023, a month-and-a-half before the election. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

spoke at red deer polytechnic thursday

NDP reiterates tuition freeze vow, explains why it won’t go back to pre-UCP levels

Apr 13, 2023 | 3:13 PM

The Alberta NDP reiterated its commitment to freezing tuition during a press conference at Red Deer Polytechnic today.

Advanced Education Critic David Eggen, along with Red Deer-South and Red Deer-North candidates, Michelle Baer and Jaelene Tweedle, spoke about the party’s vow to not just freeze tuition, but do away with another increase set to come into effect this fall.

READ MORE: NDP promises tuition freeze, but public interest group says it isn’t enough

Public Interest Alberta (PIA) has said these measures would not go far enough to address the overarching issue of student debt.

rdnewsNOW asked Eggen why the NDP — given its critique of tuition hikes upwards of 30 per cent since 2019 — won’t revert tuition levels back to what they were before the UCP came into power.

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“We did see significant tuition increases, but we also saw the biggest operational cuts in the history of this province to polytechnics, universities and trade schools across Alberta, so we need to make sure we are mitigating that and can stabilize all of our institutions,” Eggen explained.

“Let’s not forget as well we’ve had record inflation, so operational cuts inflicted by the UCP plus the extraordinary inflation meant we needed to arrive at a target [which allows a balance].”

PIA also questioned why a place such as Alberta, and a nation like Canada, doesn’t talk much about offering tuition-free post-secondary education, something available in countries like Norway, Iceland, Panama and Germany.

Exploring a tuition-free model of post-secondary is one of the PIA’s formal asks.

The NDP hasn’t explicitly stated they’d do that, but part of their announcement last week was also to do a full review of post-secondary funding and tuition, with student input.

Asked if the NDP would ever entertain free post-secondary education, Eggen wouldn’t commit to that specific action, but said the party wants to ensure everyone can access affordable advanced education.

“Moving it down that path is clear for us now. If we don’t make it affordable, quite frankly, we’re losing people in that critical moment when they’re willing and able to go to school,” he said. “We’ve moved backwards significantly over the last four years with this UCP government, and we’d like to reset and create a more positive future for post-secondary.”

The NDP estimates its freeze commitment will save 300,000 students more than $102 million this coming year, if elected.

That could include Jody Pitcher, a student and mother who is trying to complete her education, but has been hampered by the aforementioned rising tuition.

Pitcher, 36, began her psychology degree back in 2019, she shared.

Pitcher’s tuition doubled at one point and her collaborative program at the University of Calgary was cut.

“As a result of those budget cuts, my collaborative program was cancelled by the U of C and I was left wondering if I would even be able to finish my degree,” said Pitcher. “Because the UCP removed the caps on tuition, I am now paying double the amount per course than I was in 2019. Alberta is one of the most prosperous provinces in the country, and students trying to advance their education and better their careers shouldn’t be struggling this much.”

Tweedle, who’s running against current Education Minister Adriana LaGrange, added that, “The doors to our universities and colleges and trade schools must be open to anyone and everyone regardless of how much money you have, and without relying on a lottery to get you there.”

Baer, whose opponent will be MLA Jason Stephan, noted a 6.4 per cent cut to RDP’s operating budget this year.

The United Conservatives announced Thursday morning it would invest $193 million to create 8,000 new seats in high-demand post-secondary programs, including in central Alberta.

The NDP’s David Shepherd says, “Yet another abrupt policy reversal on the eve of the election doesn’t undo the profound damage the UCP has done to our post-secondary schools and our health care system.”