The Gallant Government’s tuition program, which offers free tuition to low and middle income university students came under fire in the provincial Legislature on the first day back.
In January of this year the tuition rebate was officially axed and in April this new program, called the Tuition Access Bursary, was announced. It’s available for the 2016-2017 school year for students who have a gross family income of $60,000 or less.
Interim provincial Progressive Conservative leader Bruce Fitch says that premier Brian Gallant rushed this file and got it wrong.
“The fact of the matter is that 42,000 students and graduates have been cut off from any student financial aid in the province of New Brunswick,” says Fitch, who is calling for a moratorium.
Premier Brian Gallant defended the program and said that the PCs don’t understand that tax credits after you graduate isn’t a program that helps students.
“They don’t understand that Mr. Speaker, well thankfully we do and so does Ontario,” says Gallant, “and that’s why we are making sure we have up-front grants going to those that need it most.”
Gallant says they want to do more for those who won’t qualify for the TAB and they will try to do more.
