University students organize Day of Action to protest tuition hikes and budget cuts

Alberta post-secondary institutions have experienced the highest tuition fee increases in the country over the past two years.

According to the recent inflation report published by Statistics Canada, Alberta saw tuition fees increase by 5.7 per cent year-over-year in September.

Post-secondary students from the University of Calgary, MacEwan University, the University of Alberta, and Mount Royal University organized a Day of Action on Friday to protest the tuition hikes and budget cuts.

The 2021 budget includes 1.4% funding decrease for advance education. There’s also a 5.4% cut for post-secondary operations. 750 job are expected to be lost. The province also lifted the five-year tuition freeze which resulted in a 7% increase.

— Jeff Slack (@Jeffslack660) October 29, 2021

“It is outrageous that prices are going up this much,” said Mckenzie Gathercole, a third-year fine arts student.

Gathercole added that she’s lucky to have the option of living at home while attending school, but can’t say the same for some of her friends.

“It is scary to think that some of my friends that do have to live in dorms or do have to live on their own might not be able to pay for their rent or get food.”

The United Conservative Government cut spending at universities and colleges across Alberta in an attempt to align spending with other institutions across Canada.

The province also lifted the five-year freeze on tuition fees resulting in a 7 per cent hike.

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James Mackay, a third-year political science student, said he chose the University of Calgary because he wanted to stay as close as possible to his hometown of Fort McMurry. But because of the recent changes, Mackay says he has researched moving to another province to finish his degree.

“I along with many other students who go here also looked at universities in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia,” he said.

Mackay says with tuition increasing it has people debating on whether the cost of education is worth the debt they will accumulate after graduation.

“It’s a shame that people have to make a decision between money and trying to get an education, it’s ridiculous,” he said.

Organizers of the Day of Action called on the UCP government to reinstate the freeze on tuition increases and reversal of budget cuts. The groups say not doing so will hinder Alberta’s ability for an economic recovery.