The University of Alberta has the highest tuition rates in Western Canada, and among the highest throughout the rest of the nation, as well. In a time where, compared to the rest of Canada, Alberta's economy is booming, Albertan universities remain one of the lowest funded in all of Canada.

At the Universities of Alberta and Calgary, the administration spending is through the roof, an unwise use of student dollars. Report after report outline the fact that high tuition rates are keeping qualified potential students away, simply because they cannot afford to pay. Other provinces can see the value of post-secondary education and have either frozen their fees or rolled them back.

This year, we are asking for your help to get the university to freeze the fees. This website contains a great deal of information and resources. Please take your time to search through everything, and then visit the action section and let your voice be heard.

STUDENT PETITION (download, print & distribute)
Feb 7, 2003

We are parents of children in the Edmonton Public School System with daughters in Grade 5, 7, 10 and 12. This project started two days ago following the letter sent home from the School Board announcing the significant projected deficit and the inevitable cuts in teaching staff next year. The following day Global TV interviewed the Principal at Belgravia Elementary School and filmed our youngest daughterıs class as part of their news coverage of this issue. Our children know they will be directly affected by projected cuts. Belgravia may be the smallest school in Edmonton and would be vulnerable to removal entirely. Our daughters in junior high (Vernon Barford) and high school (Ross Sheppard) know very well that non core subjects, special programs and extracurricular activities are all at risk.

As we discussed what we could do about this problem, the idea of a petition signed by all the children in their schools was enthusiastically endorsed. Within 24 hours, the idea of getting friends in other schools to participate developed. They have now delivered copies of the petition to students in Strathcona, Old Strathcona, McNally, Harry Ainlay and Crestwood Schools in addition to their own. Their first experiences have varied in terms of the degree of support that Prinicpals feel they can provide so that some peitions have been circulated in class time and others must be completed outside of class.

Obviously the impact of this depends on the number of students involved and the speed of their response. This is mainly a student initiative ­ we are trying to help them with the contacts and logistics. I would encourage everyone who is concerned about the state of education in this province to consider participating. If any one would like to join this petition I would encourage them to contact the student bodies in their school and provide them with copies. We would be happy to receive or to pick up completed forms (if in Edmonton). The current idea would be that as many students as wished would present them to the Minister of Learning or the Premier, while a copy would be presented to the Opposition Education Critic to prompt discussion in the Legislature next week.