Well, that is one way in which the federal government can, in effect, provide a transfer direct to the institutions that need the resources, but I would be foolhardy if I were to say that McMaster would raise its fees by exactly the amount of any additional federal transfer to students. I do think there is room for a national discussion on this, and my discussions with students have generally been of the form that student aid, especially for those most in need, is priority one.
Second, the issue of tuition increase is muted if students see corresponding increases in resources coming from levels of government and individual donors to ensure that not just access but also the quality agenda is attended to and that the students are making the investment through their own fees in a high-quality education that will provide them with future returns on that investment.