Mr. Speaker, I can tell the hon. member that tuition rates have already doubled over the past four or five years under the existing system. They are going up at the rate of 10 per cent or 15 per cent every year. That is hurting students right now because they cannot afford it. Furthermore it is providing a major deterrent for people who are already in the workforce and want to go back to school.
We are saying let's broaden, deepen and widen the amount of money available to students. Let's also put in place a brand new repayment scheme that would allow students to pay back according to the income they earn, not according to a flat rate like we have presently.
When students graduate they would pay it back according to their their income. If they had a high income they would pay it right back. If they had a low income they would take their time. If they had no income they would not pay at all until they got an income. That is what we are trying to do to ensure total and open accessibility for all Canadians.