Mr. Speaker, this week a group of committed student leaders from across the country travelled to Ottawa on behalf of the Canadian Federation of Students to raise awareness of a number of pressing issues concerning post-secondary education in Canada.
The students I met with spoke about the troubling reality for students on the accessibility issue for Canadian youth due to rising tuition costs. The previous Liberal government had committed to a 50% cut to tuition on the first and final years of post-secondary study.
For many Canadians, education is the necessary means to break out of poverty and into a better life. Education is an investment in the future of our children. Therefore, Canada must commit to the principle of accessible education for all Canadians.
The other deeply troubling issue for students is the cuts by the minority Conservative government to the summer career placement program. Fifty per cent, or in other words, 22,000 placements have been eliminated. Again, this program was an investment in our great country.
I ask all the hon. members in the House to join me in commending the Canadian Federation--