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February 2005

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Bob Rae's Postsecondary Review Urges Greater Priority for Higher Education in Ontario

TORONTO, Feb. 7 /CNW/ - The Hon. Bob Rae, as Advisor to the Premier and

Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, today released his

Postsecondary Review report, "Ontario: A Leader in Learning", calling for a

renewed commitment to higher education.

    "Society's survival has always relied on the transfer of skills and

abilities across generations. What is new is the level and breadth of

knowledge and skill required to succeed. Our current standard of living, and

our quality of life, depend on access to the best education in the world."

    "The goals for reform are straightforward: great education, opportunities

for more people and a secure future for higher education in Ontario," said

Rae. "I am recommending practical actions the provincial government needs to

take to ensure excellence, accessibility and sustainability of its higher

education system."

    Rae's key recommendations call for:

    -  New legislation that enshrines the commitment that every qualified

       student in Ontario will find a place in college or university

       regardless of means.

    -  A $300 million overhaul of student assistance programs, including new

       up-front grants for more than 95,000 low-income students, more access

       to loans that better reflect the actual costs of study for low- and

       middle-income students, and new loans to help parents contribute to

       their children's education. Rae calls on the federal government to

       focus its student assistance on living costs, and follow the

       province's lead in providing substantial up-front grants and improved

       loans to meet student need. Rae proposes that, in time, a coordinated

       system with the federal government would enable graduates to repay

       their loans at rates tied more directly to their incomes.

    -  More cooperation and collaboration between all institutions.

    -  A responsible funding partnership that ensures sustainable revenues

       for the sector.

    -  A substantial increase in provincial investment - a total of at least

       $1.3 billion new base funding to colleges and universities by 2007-08

       to include:

       -  $700 million for quality improvements and innovation to make the

          student experience more rewarding and successful.

       -  $180 million for expansion of graduate education.

       -  $160 million for new enrolment and outreach, to expand

          participation in higher education.

    -  A commitment from the federal government to be a reliable and steady

       partner through transfers to the province for base operating support,

       and investments in priority areas, such as apprenticeship and graduate

       education. The provincial and federal governments should build on real

       opportunities for productive collaboration.

    -  A new Council on Higher Education to help set targets for growth in

       participation and quality improvements, and report publicly on

       progress and performance.

    According to Rae, tuition should not increase at all until the student

assistance system is reformed and government has made significant new

investments. Tuition levels would then be set by institutions, subject to a

new provincial regulatory framework that ensures predictability, transparency

and affordability for students.

    Mr. Rae's recommendations are the result of an eight-month review process

during which he was assisted by a seven-member Advisory Panel of distinguished

Ontarians and a small Secretariat. Mr. Rae engaged the public and stakeholders

at 17 public Town Hall meetings and 24 stakeholder Roundtable Dialogues in 15

communities; and considered more than 2,300 submissions. In total, more than

7,000 Ontarians contributed to the review.

    "I have had the rare opportunity to help start a discussion, and even a

debate, on a critically important subject," said Rae. "Higher education

matters. It matters for each of us as individuals, it matters for our society

and our economy."

    The Postsecondary Review was announced in the Ontario Budget 2004. Rae

completed his review in a compressed period of time to provide the provincial

government an opportunity to inform its 2005 Budget decisions.

    Bob Rae's report "Ontario: A Leader in Learning," may be viewed on the

Postsecondary Review's website, www.raereview.on.ca.

Reuters.com