The House of Commons reconvened on September 24, 1990 after a lengthy summer recess. The 3% administrative fee on Canada Student Loans beginning September 1991, bill C-69 (freezing of funds for post- secondary education), and the unveiling of the Federation’s Strategy for change will be the

focus of this term’s campaigns and lobby efforts.

DON’T TAX MY LOAN!

The 3% administrative fee or surtax on Canada Student Loans was introduced by the Honourable Robert DeCotret, President of the Treasury Board, December 15, 1989 as a revenue-generating measure. If a student borrows $ 5,000, she will be repaying $5,150 plus interest. The Federation met with the Minister of Finance, the Honourable Michael Wilson, at the end of June to discuss this area of concern. The minister informed us “thatifindividuals are going to use a program they are going to have to pay for it”. What this tax really means is that those students who can least afford the cost of post-secondary education are being taxed for going into debt. You can get involved and stop this tax by signinga“3% postcard” available at your student association office, contacting your local MP and expressing your concerns, and getting involved in the Federation's National Student Day campaign to stop the tax.

4 CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS

CUTBACKS

Inthe 1990 federal budget, the Minister of Finance introduced Bill C-69, a bill to freeze and further reduce the transfer payments to the provinces for health care and post-secondary education. The Conservative government will have cut back $3,277,294,000 on post-secondary education spending by the end of its’second term in office. This means fewer courses will be offered this term, depleted library stocks, antiquittated lab equipment, high student/professor ratios and rising tuition fees.

The Federation, with other education and interest groups, isworking towards a better funding formula for post- secondary education. The decision to fund education can not be dependent on deficit reduction mechanisms. Educationis aninvestmentin the future and must be viewed as an asset - not a liability!

STRATEGY FOR CHANGE

The Federation's Strategy for change will be unveiled on National Student Day, October 17, 1990. This day marks the celebration of students’ organizing over the last 60 years to affect change. The Strategy for change will outline solutions andalternatives to the current underfunding crisis of post-secondary education.

These and many more issues face students each and every day. Our power lies in our numbers - over 400,000 across Canada, our voice Is the Federation. Contact your student association and get involved. Education is a right, not a privilege.

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