Media Releases

Students call upon government to enforce tuition freeze policy

Students from Manitoba’s universities are taking their message directly to the Manitoba Legislature today at 1:00 pm.

“Despite the current tuition freeze and level of government funding, Manitoba’s universities continue to increase fees charged to students,” states Stacy Senkbeil, Manitoba Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. “The Minister of Advanced Education and the Premier have stated that they expect universities to live within their means, but are allowing them to increase fees to all students, and in some cases increase tuition fees for international students to 280% more of what Canadian students pay.”

Students from the University of Winnipeg, University of Manitoba, Brandon University and the Coll? universitaire de Saint-Boniface will be going directly to the Manitoba Legislature and present pledge forms to current MLA’s and Cabinet Ministers asking them if they support the tuition freeze.

“The province continually sends students and Manitobans mixed messages about the tuition fee freeze,” adds Rachel Gotthilf, Manitoba Representative. “If this government is actually committed to making post-secondary education accessible to all students, they must stand behind their freeze and stop universities from gouging students.”

The Canadian Federation of Students is calling on this government to pledge their support for the tuition freeze and to: support legislation to protect the tuition fee freeze and provide adequate funding levels for post-secondary institutions; oppose all ancillary fee increases and work to eliminate all ancillary fees at universities and colleges; and oppose tuition fee increases for international students and support inclusion of these students under the tuition fee freeze.

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The Canadian Federation of Students is a national alliance of over 80 students’ unions,
representing over 500,000 students across Canada, and over 47,000 students in Manitoba.

Students take message directly to politicians

Students from Manitoba’s universities will be taking their message to support the tuition freeze directly to the Manitoba Legislature on Monday June 26, 2006, the same day the University of Winnipeg is voting on new student fees.


WHAT: Student Day of Action
WHEN: Monday June 26, 2006
WHERE: Manitoba Legislature
TIME: 1:00 pm

On Monday, students will be banging on doors at the Manitoba legislature, asking all Members of the Legislative Assembly to sign pledge cards committing to stopping fee increases, and supporting affordable, accessible post-secondary education in Manitoba. Students will also be meeting with MLAs to discuss their concerns over recent fee hikes at all Manitoba universities and colleges.

Despite a current tuition fee freeze in Manitoba, Brandon University, the University of Manitoba and the Coll? universitaire de Saint-Boniface have all increased fees for students. The Coll? universitaire de Saint-Boniface recently voted to increase student fees by $100 despite their surplus of approximately $300,000. The U of M has also increased fees charged to international students, meaning they now pay 280% of what Canadian students pay.

Following the events at the Legislature, students will be going to the U of W Board of Regents meeting, where it is expected, they will further increase fees.

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The Canadian Federation of Students is a national alliance of over 80 students’ unions,
representing over 500,000 students across Canada, and over 47,000 students in Manitoba.

While Canada’s western Premiers meet in Gimli today, students want to send a strong message to them that post-secondary education is a priority for Canadians and something they need to be focused on.

“The fact that post-secondary education is not on the agenda for the Premier’s conference sends a strong message to students and Canadians,” states Matt Gagne, co-chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students – Manitoba.

Students from Manitoba’s universities are calling on the Premiers to pressure Ottawa for increased money for post-secondary education.

“Students fees at our universities have been increasing every year, and recent decisions by the U of M are calling for huge increases to be charged to international students,” adds Gagne. “These fees are unacceptable, and what we need is the federal government to commit to restoring the $4billion to post-secondary education that has been cut over the years.”

The University of Manitoba has recently voted to increase fees paid by international students to 180% that of Canadian students, and assess a $100 fee for all students. Brandon University has also recently decided to increase fees by $90 for all students, and it’s expected that other institutions will soon follow the lead of Brandon University and the University of Manitoba.

“Canada’s western premiers need to address issues of post-secondary education, and how it can be made more accessible,” concludes Gagne.

In Manitoba, the Canadian Federation of Students consists of the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association, Brandon University Students’ Union, University of Manitoba Students’ Union, University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association, and the Association ?diante du Coll? universitaire de Saint-Boniface.


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The Canadian Federation of Students is a national alliance of over 80 students’ unions,
representing over 500,000 students across Canada, and over 40,000 students in Manitoba.

Despite fee freeze and funding increases, University of Manitoba to gouge students

In defiance of the provincial tuition fee freeze policy, the University of Manitoba is proposing to increase fees for all students by $100 and levy new fees of about $360 for a full-time student taking labs.

The University is also proposing a 60% tuition fee increase for international students—about $1200 for a full-time student. This would bring international student fees to $9200, not including the new ancillary fees.

“The University’s disregard for the tuition fee freeze is unacceptable to students,” states Garry Sran, President of the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU).

These fee increases come on the heels of fee hikes at Brandon University, and amidst discussion of fee increases at the University of Winnipeg and the Coll? universitaire de Saint-Boniface.

Today is the first time that students at the University of Manitoba have had access to information about what the University is proposing for the upcoming academic year.

“We are very upset that the University is proposing large fee increases,” adds Sran. “The University of Manitoba hides behind closed door meetings until the last minute, provides few budget details, and essentially shuts out students as we try to find solutions.”

Students are calling on the Minister of Advanced Education, the Honourable Diane McGifford, to uphold the tuition fee freeze by holding universities accountable to provincial policy and higher standards for financial disclosure.

“If the Minister is really committed to the tuition fee freeze, she must take action to enforce it.” concludes Sran.

The University of Manitoba Board of Governors is set to vote on these proposed fee increase at its upcoming meeting, scheduled for 4:00 pm, Tuesday May 23, 2006.


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The Canadian Federation of Students is a national alliance of over 80 students’ unions,
representing over 500,000 students across Canada, and over 40,000 students in Manitoba.

Canadian Federation of Students applauds decision not to increase fees for international students

Students’ unions across the province applaud the April 27 decision of the Brandon University Board of Governors to reject a 25% increase in differential fees for international students. The fee increase that was proposed by the University’s senior administration would have brought the differential for international students to 225% of fees charged to their Canadian classmates. International students and other supporters filled the meeting room during the budget deliberations last week and applauded the successful vote.

Brandon University Students’ Union President Mitch Obach brought forward the budget amendment that won the support of a wide range of members of the Board of Governors. The amendment will save an international student with a full course load some $680 dollars in the upcoming academic year. The cumulative savings to international students at Brandon University will be about $70,000 in 2006–2007.

“Manitoba students are certainly encouraged by the decision to reject fee hikes, especially since the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg are sure to propose similar fee increases the coming weeks,” said Mathew Gagn?Provincial Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. “Students are hoping that the other universities will also reject fee increases for international students.”

The news from Brandon University is not all good for students, however. The proposal to reject the fee increase for international students was part of package of amendments brought forward by students and faculty to counter the Brandon University budget proposal and process. Despite an alternative budget proposal that eliminated fee increases and many cutbacks, ancillary fee increases for all students were approved by the Board of Governors. These new fees will cost students more than $200,000 next year, in spite of the government-mandated tuition fee freeze and historic levels of operational funding for upcoming years.

Added Gagn?“The 2006–2007 budget exercise at Brandon University demonstrates that viable alternatives to increasing fees are not being given enough consideration by senior administrators of Manitoba’s universities.”

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The Canadian Federation of Students is a national alliance of over 80 students’ unions,
representing over 500,000 students across Canada, and over 40,000 students in Manitoba.