The leader of Nova Scotia’s New Democratic Party calls government’s pledge to pay the technical training fees for apprentices a good start.
Gary Burrill says he’s glad to see the province supporting some students, but feels they haven’t gone far enough.
One of Burrill’s key promises during the spring election was to provide community college free to Nova Scotians.
“This is all to the good. It’s a thing that needs to be done. It’s a positive step. But, the real positive step that’s required, the bold step, is to do the very same thing for the entirety of NSCC programs. That’s the investment we need to make.”
Burrill says dollar for dollar you can’t find a better investment than students.
“Over the tax-paying working life of that student, the return to the Nova Scotia public is $7.20. So this is a sound, good investment. There’s no better place for us to put our money.”
Burrill feels more graduates would stay and work in Nova Scotia if they weren’t saddled with such large debt coming out of school.
He says there are many countries around the world already providing free college education and he hopes to see Nova Scotia’s government make the same commitment.
Eliminating tuition for apprentices should be first step to free tuition at #NSCC https://t.co/PGdoeXA7Wx @ZannLenore #nspoli
— Nova Scotia NDP (@NSNDP) September 5, 2017
