B.C. Premier John Horgan made one of his first major announcements from Saanich鈥檚 Camosun College on Tuesday, stating his government will eliminate tuition fees on adult basic education and English language learning programs.
The announcement reverses action taken by the B.C. Liberals in 2015, which allowed education institutions to charge up to $1,600 per semester for full-time studies for adult learners. In turn, enrolment dropped by almost 35 per cent between the 2013-14 and 2016-17 school years.
Adult students who鈥檝e prepaid for basic education and English language courses for September will be refunded, Horgan said.
鈥淣ew Canadians who want a head start improving their language skills, students getting ready for university, adult learners going back to school to upgrade their skills to improve their opportunities or just getting a high school diploma, adult basic education should be free for everyone, it should be a right,鈥� Horgan said.
The cost to make basic education free again will be included in September鈥檚 budget.
The premier also confirmed NDP鈥檚 plan to end interest on student loans in B.C.
鈥淲e鈥檙e actually going to reduce the [interest on] borrowing for student loans to zero, interest free, as well as a completion grant for those who have finished their education,鈥� said Horgan.
The grant will create an incentive to those who鈥檝e built up a large student debt during studies, to knock off as much as $1,000 from their balance when they finish, he added.
Both announcements are welcome news for the B.C. Federation of Students which has been pressing years for these changes.
鈥淎dults who want to go back to [high school] shouldn鈥檛 be charged for that,鈥� said Simka Marshall, chairperson for the B.C. Federation of Students. 鈥淭his is something we鈥檝e been campaigning for, we鈥檝e had 23 municipalities endorse our campaign calling for free adult education so this is a really welcome change.鈥�
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鈥淥ur province can鈥檛 afford to lose students who are keen to learn or advance their skills training in the post-secondary sector because of financial barriers,鈥� said Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training Melanie Mark. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud we鈥檙e taking this action to expand opportunities for ABE and ELL students to thrive in the workforce and achieve academic success.鈥�
Horgan also spoke to softwood lumber deal with the U.S. and to Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Andrew Weaver鈥檚 disapproval of Horgan鈥檚 upcoming golf tournament in Victoria that costs $500 per entry.
鈥淚 have spoken to [Weaver about it],鈥� Horgan said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a closed event, and anyway the cost largely goes to paying the green fees. [Fleming] and I have hosted this for a decade, it鈥檚 not secret, it鈥檚 not cash-for-access, anyone can join.鈥�
ragnar.haagen@bpdigital.ca
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