OTTAWA, Oct. 04, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, students across the country unite with students in Manitoba in demanding that the government of Manitoba scrap Bill 31, legislation that will pave the way for tuition fee hikes across the province. The government plans to introduce the legislation today in the House of Assembly.

“At a time when students are relying on access to post-secondary education, it is completely irresponsible of Premier Pallister to hike tuition fees,” says Coty Zachariah, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. “We call on the government to invest in education instead of downloading costs onto students and their families.”

If passed, Bill 31 will allow tuition fee increases of up to 5% per year, plus inflation each year for domestic undergraduate students. It would completely deregulate course-related and tuition fees, leading to steep and unpredictable increases for international, college, graduate and professional students.

“Students have a long and proud history of fighting back against attacks on post-secondary education,” continues Zachariah, “We will, again, mobilize students and their families in communities across Manitoba to put an end to Bill 31.” 

Students have launched a public campaign to scrap Bill 31 and will push toward a provincial Day of Action on October 26. In the lead-up to the Day of Action, students are organizing events and movements on campuses and in communities across the province.

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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0c3de713-1b9f-4986-aeb6-3e5a976048c2