Mr. Speaker, I rise to express NDP solidarity with students who are rallying this week in CFS Days of Action to assert their right to quality post-secondary education. Fifteen hundred students came out in Winnipeg on Wednesday, and hundreds more in Toronto, Sudbury and Windsor yesterday, demanding federal action to cut tuition fees and student debt.
Liberal majority budgets slashed billions of dollars from provincial education transfers, leading to major cost increases for students. More and more young people are being denied access to education they need for jobs and hope for the future. More and more families cannot afford to send their sons and daughters to university.
The Liberals promised $8 billion for post-secondary education in last year's election and New Democrats intend to use this minority government to hold them to that promise. We are here for students to ensure that this government no longer takes their needs for granted.
We want a day of action on post-secondary education from this government and that day is February 23, budget day.