News

Students were very pleased today to see the Nova Scotia Government approve a 15-cent increase to the province’s minimum wage, keeping it near the basic standard set by the low income cut off (LICO). Since 2004, the minimum hourly wage in Nova Scotia has risen from $6.50 to $10.30.

Officials at Metro Transit have announced a proposal to increase transit fares by 11% or 25 cents per trip. They argue that the increase is relatively negligible and allows for various improvements to be funded without increasing transit taxes. Students question why transit users should cover the full cost of improvements to this key public asset, and are concerned that a fare increase will translate into higher U-pass costs down the road.

Dalhousie University has announced that it anticipates a $17.5 million deficit for their 2013-14 budget. In recent public comments, Dalhousie’s Vice President of Finance Administration, Ken Burt, proposed that the deficit is the result of the institution facing a “perfect storm” in the form of “a reduction in government grants, increased pension costs, and declining student enrolment.” Nova Scotia students are surprised and disappointed by the scale of the shortfall, given the university should have anticipated and prepared for this ‘storm’.

The Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC) released a report on Monday, Portable Learning: University Students Granted Credit for Prior Post-Secondary Education, which highlights the significance of transfer students at Maritimes Universities. Almost one-in-five students entering our universities each year are awarded credits for past courses at another post-secondary institution.

A new report released by Students Nova Scotia (StudentsNS) warns that Nova Scotia’s emphasis on enrolment growth in allocating university funding threatens institutions’ stability and education quality, while failing to promote transparency and accountability. Getting the Most from Our Universities: A New Approach to System Planning and Funding in Nova Scotia recommends significant reforms to the province’s funding formula and the university system’s overall governance structure.