AB budget to reduce public spending on PSE

Alberta's 2015–16 provincial budget will push the province to become less reliant on public spending for PSE. The budget cuts spending on PSE institutions by $55 M. AB will work to reduce program duplication, “preserve high value programs,” and “identify and shed low value programs.” It will also review tuition fees and examine the potential of alternative revenue streams. “Every option is going to be on the table going forward … We are going to go through an engagement process and see what stakeholders think might be the solutions,” said Minister of Innovation and Advanced Education Don Scott. Student aid will increase by $14 M. Scholarships will remain stable, and bursaries will be cut by 25%. The budget also includes a hike in student loan disbursements and provides $1.1 B over 5 years for modernizing PSE institutions. Finance Minister Robin Campbell said that the province must "align itself with the national average in government funding, user pay and revenue generation"; this process could include the removal of the tuition cap. Calgary Herald | Edmonton Journal