Ontario students urge new federal government to stand up for opportunity and prosperity by making higher education a priority

Attention News/Education/Political/Queen's Park Editors:

TORONTO, Jan. 24 /CNW/ - The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance
(OUSA) encourages the new federal government to make higher education a
priority, and deliver on their commitment of creating a dedicated Canada
Education and Training Transfer with targeted, sustainable funding.
When adjusted for inflation and population growth, federal transfers to
the provinces to fund post-secondary education in 2004 were 40 per cent lower
than in 1992/93.

"While post-secondary education is a provincial responsibility, federal
funding and financial aid is a critical component of improving quality and
access to the system. In recent years, a major element of the under-funding of
post-secondary education has been the decline of federal contributions," said
Scott Courtice, Executive Director of OUSA. "Standing up for opportunity and
prosperity means investing in higher education."

Creating a dedicated federal transfer earmarked specifically for
universities, colleges and skills-training goes hand-in-hand with the creation
of a pan-Canadian vision for post-secondary education. To that end, OUSA
encourages the government to fully participate in the upcoming Summit on
Post-Secondary Education and Skills-Training to be hosted by the Council of
the Federation February 23rd - 24th, 2006.

"For over a decade students have been urging federal and provincial
leaders to build a pan-Canadian vision to guide post-secondary developments
and advancements," said Stephanie Murray, President of OUSA. "Cooperation
between the provincial and federal government would create a post-secondary
education system that ensures improvements in quality, affordability and
accessibility for all Canadians."

For more information on OUSA's current policy and campaign initiatives,
please visit www.ousa.ca.

For further information: Scott Courtice, Executive Director, OUSA,
(416) 341-9948, cell: (416) 689-9621; Stephanie Murray, President, OUSA,
(905) 525-9140 ext. 24017; Adrienne Watt, Director of Communications, OUSA,
(416) 341-9948

Source: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2006/24/c0181.html