MOTION ON NOTICE

At the Council meeting of February 5, 2002, Councillor Bass submitted the following Notice of Motion, which was recognized by the Chair.

Promoting Access and Affordability of Education for
Vancouver Post-Secondary Students (File 1263)

WHEREAS, tens of thousands of post-secondary students attending 13 public post-secondary institutions in the Lower Mainland live in Vancouver;

AND WHEREAS, Vancouver's post-secondary institutions attract students, staff and faculty to reside and participate in Vancouver's economy;

AND WHEREAS, post-secondary students from all segments of our society study at colleges, institutes, university colleges and universities;

AND WHEREAS, 73 per cent of new jobs will require some level of post-secondary education by 2008, and British Columbia lags behind other provinces in degrees and diplomas granted per capita;

AND WHEREAS, many students require government support to finance their education;

AND WHEREAS, the elimination of student assistance and employment programs such as Youth Community Action, Training Assistance Benefits, Student Summer Works and Work Study announced by the BC government on January 17 will make it harder for students to afford the high costs of post-secondary education;

AND WHEREAS, Bill 28 (Public Education Flexibility and Choice Act) passed by the Provincial Legislature on January 28 threatens the quality of education through increasing class sizes and mandating on-line delivery of courses in place of face-to-face instruction;

AND WHEREAS, an increase in tuition fees will negatively affect access to post-secondary education for Vancouver's students;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, City Council ask the provincial government to:

(a) reinstate all student employment and assistance programs eliminatedin the announcement of January 17, 2002;
(b) maintain the tuition fee freeze to ensure access to post-secondary education; and
(c) repeal Bill 28-Public Education Flexibility and Choice Act.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver