On May 7th, 2021, Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) President, Vianne Timmons, made additional comments on “The Big Reset” report. She says that the recommendation to cut MUN’s budget by 30% is too radical. Timmons says MUN has been looking at raising tuition but does not want to increase it by that much.

Many of the recommendations in “The Big Reset” report for MUN and the College of the North Atlantic (CONA) are similar to last week’s Post-Secondary Education (PSE) Review Report. Both reports recommend lifting the 22-year-old tuition freeze. However, there is one significant difference: the PSE Review Report recommends that the government maintain the operating grants for both MUN and CONA, but the “The Big Reset” report recommends cutting the operating grants by 30% over six years.

“The 30% seems to be an impossible target, but we’ll work with government…”

Vianne Timmons

Timmons states, “In the context of being cut the last five years, every year losing 10% of our workforce, the 30% seems to be an impossible target, but we’ll work with government, we’ll work with them to see what is reasonable.”

Currently, undergraduate tuition is $2,550 for Newfoundland and Labrador students to enroll in ten courses a year.

Timmons states regarding if MUN’s operating grant does not decrease, “I would recommend to the Board of Regents we look around $5,000 for tuition and that still will be the lowest outside of Quebec.”

“We still want to keep our tuition low in terms of the Canadian context.”

Vianne Timmons

If the operating grant does get cut, Timmons states, “In our initial analysis, and its very initial, it would probably be close to three-fold. So, it would have to go up to around $7,000. That wasn’t what we want or want to consider, so you know we would like to keep programs accessible. We still want to keep our tuition low in terms of the Canadian context.”

Matt Barter is a third-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.

In a media release on May 6th, 2021, MUN Faculty Association (MUNFA) made it clear that it rejects the recommendation by “The Big Reset: The Report of the Premier’s Economic Recovery Team” to decrease the operating grants of Memorial University of Newfoundland and the College of the North Atlantic by 30% over the next six years.

MUNFA calls on MUN President, Dr. Vianne Timmons, and Chair of the Board of Regents, Iris Petten, who assisted with the preparation of ‘The Big Reset,’ to denounce the proposed cut to the province’s post-secondary institutions.

“Now is not the time to decimate our only public university and college.”

Bill Schipper

MUNFA President Bill Schipper states, “As we recover from the global pandemic and move forward as a province, we need a strong post-secondary sector more than ever. Now is not the time to decimate our only public university and college.”

MUNFA states that since 2015, MUN had successive cuts to its operating grant. The release states that “While fiscal challenges can create political pressure to cut government spending, investment in education is widely recognized as one of the most effective economic multipliers. Education levels within a society are also linked to socioeconomic stability, equality and to improvements in public health.”

Schipper states that the Post-Secondary Education Review Report, “All Hands on Deck,” highlighted that the post-secondary education system is an investment in the province’s future.

Furthermore, he says that “’The Big Reset’ fails to acknowledge this investment and if implemented is guaranteed to force both future students and recent graduates out of Newfound and Labrador.”

“Education is widely recognized as one of the most effective economic multipliers.”

MUNFA’

MUNFA closed with an emphasis on the critical message to the provincial government from “All Hands on Deck” report that government must maintain “at least the current level of support for the operating grant for Memorial University, with no further reductions.”

Matt Barter is a third-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.

On May 3rd, 2021, Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) President Vianne Timmons took to CBC News to share her views on the post-secondary education review report’s recommendation to increase tuition after initially turning down CBC’s interview request on April 29th. Timmons’s recent comments received much criticism on social media, and some were even outraged.

In the May 3rd interview, Timmons stated that she and the university are open to discussions on the proposal to lift the tuition freeze. She said that “We see the importance of looking at revenue for the university.”

Timmons said that if tuition increases, students currently enrolled will pay the same as they already pay. She states, “There will be no student who is presently enrolled in Memorial that will be compromised.”

Timmons seems to be using the tactic of dividing students. The idea is that current students will not care because their tuition will not increase and that high school students are not even there yet, so there will not be much resistance from them.

Patrick Martin stated, “As tuition costs increase, education becomes more of a privilege than a right. I remember being at MUN and meeting a person who was there only because of scholarships. This should never be. Free education is what should be done. And increase the subsidy to MUN.”

“As tuition costs increase, education becomes more of a privilege than a right.”

Patrick Martin

Suzanne Giroux Mealey raises a point about how Commentator Rex Murphy fought for free tuition during his student union days, “Rex Murphy managed to get that to happen many decades ago, but the province is almost bankrupt, how is this supposed to happen?”

Patrick Martin responded that “The province is not bankrupt. The province has a spending issue, not an income issue. And MUN is not where the province is spending that money.”

Debbie Burke takes issue with online learning during the pandemic, “It would be nice to actually get an education on campus not home on a computer either. MUN is getting way more in tuition than they should be right now! Not the best way to be getting a degree.”

Burke then stated that “raising the costs of tuition in a province that doesn’t have much more going for it is not the best of ideas. Start from the big salaries. She makes more than the premier of our province, for God sakes.”

Chris Caddigan stated, “MUN should have been under a microscope long before this. A lot of money mismanaged and very high salaries with zero accountability.”

“Money is making that institution greedy, and they are missing the mark…”

Michael Labonte

Michael Labonte commented that “MUN is moving away from their founding principals… Money is making that institution greedy, and they are missing the mark…”

Desmond Hepditch said, “Decrease MUN admin salaries; otherwise, this is just lip service and what she has to say is irrelevant.”

Heber W. Chipman said, “Maybe learn to curb spending before looking for new income sources… that’s what’s wrong with our province…pass the buck, no accountability. Let every MUN employee take a 10 percent pay decrease…bet that would help.”

TJ Turnbull stated, “Hope she is just as open about her big raise and how she is only thinking of herself and not the students.”

Robert Wallace said, “Maybe MUN should stop blowing the budget, overpaying their staff, unnecessary expenditures. Maybe that should be the 1st step before they change tuition fees.”

Philip Bath states, “Shit is like discipline might start at the top but runs down to the floor you think she would have deferred the raise with all that’s going on at this time. Just look at them eyes cold as Ice.”

Leonard Roxon stated that “Vianne Timmons can start by setting the example for all to show responsible spending by taking a 20% cut in her own pay, freeze raises for five years, and then tie raises to how other public servant pay is done. Then do the same with all the senior administrators. That will send the right signal.”

“Vianne Timmons can start by setting the example for all to show responsible spending by taking a 20% cut in her own pay.”

Leonard Roxon

Michael Hinchey took issue with the independent nature of the report, “The chairs of the committee that wrote the independent review report all have connections to MUN. Karen Kennedy works with the MUN pension association. Professor Emeritus Kevin Keough held numerous Administrative positions at MUN. Doreen Neville works for the Provost and Vice President Academic at MUN. So, the report is hardly independent.”

Michael Hinchey then stated why the people of the province should support funding for MUN. He said, “People pay taxes to support Health and K12 because they know it is for the common good. They should also be willing to support our young people at MUN and CNA because it would also be for the common good. The potential payback from a pool of highly educated young people is enormous. The support would also be a big morale boost for our young people.”

Michael Hinchey then took issue with statements made by the university regarding enrollment increases, “Before the pandemic struck, there had been a 30% drop in enrollment of NL students at MUN. Some young people from NL were not willing to cripple themselves financially for decades to go to MUN. The current uptick in enrollment is just an aberration caused by the pandemic.”

“As everyone at MUN already knows, the entire upper administration is grossly overpaid and incompetent.”

Char Lewis

Devon Morris took issue with the idea of increasing student loans to help students with a tuition hike, “What I haven’t heard anyone say is what the effect of having 2x the loans will be on new grads and their ability to spend after graduation.” He said that currently, a five-year degree costs about $50,000 in tuition, fees, residence and meals costs. He said, “double that, and a new grad has much less spending power upon graduation. People got to consider the trickle-down effects.”

With regards to the cost of the tuition freeze, Morris stated, “Also, $70 million per year is a small price to pay for the tuition freeze. No doubt MUN can and should save money – but not at the expense of the tuition freeze.”

Char Lewis stated, “As everyone at MUN already knows, the entire upper administration is grossly overpaid and incompetent. Independence from government appointees is necessary to return to an educational model and to cut all the overpaid VPs who are only in it for personal profit.”

Matt Barter is a third-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.

On May 2nd, 2021, The Sally and Chuck Davis Club of the Communist Party of Canada issued a statement regarding the Newfoundland and Labrador tuition freeze on their Facebook page. They state that their club “rejects unequivocally the recommendation of the Public Post Secondary Education Review Committee that the tuition freeze existing in this province be removed. Their so-called model that ‘reflects and respects the priorities of the university and the province… and explicitly considers the true costs of supporting students being accepted into programs within the university’ can only translate as a tuition hike.” They state that this is especially the case now that the Liberal government seems likely to embrace austerity measures to address provincial debt.

They state that “Increasing tuition fees offloads ever more cost onto students, and despite the tuition freeze many students of MUN and CNA already graduate with extensive debt making it difficult to start making a living in the province.” They say that many young people already do not see a future in Newfoundland and Labrador and that an increase in the cost of post-secondary education will continue to push them away.

“We demand not merely a tuition freeze, but the elimination of tuition fees altogether.”

Sally & Chuck Davis Club NL

“The Communist Party believes that free public education at all levels is a right – not a privilege. We demand not merely a tuition freeze, but the elimination of tuition fees altogether,” says the club. They state that it must be “free to all, including international students, and including textbook and lab costs, with stipends to cover students’ living expenses.” They make it clear that they support the elimination of all existing student debt. They also raise a point about Internship programs and that those who have interns should pay them. Furthermore, they issued a call for “increased funding and access to training and apprenticeship programs which includes providing tools for the trade free to apprentices.”

They ask the question, “Who pays for this in a province struggling with public debt?” They state that The Communist Party rejects public sector cuts. They offer the solution that the provincial government start stringent revenue-generating measures. They state that a part of this solution is to increase the corporate tax rate dramatically. Furthermore, to make changes to income tax collection to require those who can afford it to pay more.

They close with the statement, “The working people of this province have not created this financial crisis, and they do not deserve to pay for it.”

They then followed this up with statements on Twitter, such as tweeting that there is a “near guarantee that the working class and students will foot the bill for bourgeois avarice and bad governance. A bloated administration, lavish salaries and $17 million schmoozing budget to court the rich, MUN leadership’s priorities are clear: not with students or faculty.”

Matt Barter is a third-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.

The backlash following the Minister of Education Tom Osbourne’s release of the Newfoundland and Labrador post-secondary education review report on April 19th continues to be significant.

Marcus Furlong says that “Unfreeze tuition won’t solve Newfoundland’s issues. $70 million is a measly drop in the bucket of our extreme expenses. Post Secondary spending is not why Newfoundland is in debt. If they want to reduce post-secondary education, look to the bloated administrative budget instead.”

“Transferring responsibility for our current debt on to students via an austere measure, ignores the responsibility of current and past governments.”

Tony Chadwick

Tony Chadwick states that “Increasing tuition at MUN makes no economic or political sense. Increased costs for potential students will inevitably result in lower enrolment, especially from NL residents, but also from other Canadian residents and international students, the latter offering the best opportunity for future population growth.” He then brings up a point about responsibility, “Ethically, transferring responsibility for our current debt on to students via an austere measure, ignores the responsibility of current and past governments who have created our financial mess.”

Leonard Roxon states that “For all the waste of Government and the padding of the bank accounts of those connected to Government and the EXTREME salaries of the MUN Administration, it is time to help the students & citizens of NL to get ahead in life – Keeping the tuition freeze is the least that this Government can do for the citizens of NL.”

Lorraine Michael states that “Where there’s political will, there is a way, and there must be a will to make education on all levels accessible and available to all. The social and economic good of society depends on an educated population. Free education should be the ultimate goal.”

“There must be a will to make education on all levels accessible and available to all.”

Lorraine Michael

Sahjanand Rai states the implications of a tuition increase for international students, “The only reason me and many other international students selected MUN over other Universities was its affordable tuition.” He says that the job market in the province is terrible, everything is expensive, and that there is a lack of connectivity from the mainland. Rai states, “The people of Newfoundland are very nice and welcoming, but it’s hard to survive if you don’t get proper opportunity.” He says that if MUN raises tuition fees to be on par with other Canadian universities, it will affect international students. He states, “they might not prefer Newfoundland over other provinces which provide them with better opportunities (for the same amount of tuition fees).”

Barry Stephenson brings up a point about the increasing privatization of post-secondary institutions, “Raising revenues through tuition is part of the privatization of education, and the financialization of the university. If government’s ‘save’ money by raising tuition, costs are downloaded to individuals and families; typically, the less affluent and minorities disproportionally pay the price. Not only does talk of the ‘cost’ of a tuition freeze neglect the broad social and economic benefits of low cost or free university education, it also leads us to think of a university education in mainly financial terms. If recent history has taught us anything, it is that market failures do in fact occur; when they do, the public winds up doubly paying. We’d best be careful in taking further steps to conceive public education as a marketable commodity. Commodity or commons? This is the choice.”

“Raising revenues through tuition is part of the privatization of education, and the financialization of the university.”

Barry Stephenson

Patrick Martin says that “Education should be free. Given the necessity of post-secondary education for the vast majority of jobs and the massive benefits that it provides to the province, they should look at reducing tuition even more.”

Scott Anderson has an idea for a reward model of tuition, “Pay for the first two years, second two free. Most drops and failures happen in the first two years. And this way, the people that deserve a break get it.”

Marie Hickey states that “Young people leave NL in droves, and affordable tuition is probably one of the main reasons some stay. We don’t need another reason for young, educated people to look elsewhere!”

Steven Butt asks the question, “Why is it that tuition increases are acceptable to so many people, but the idea of service fees for health care or K-12 education are unacceptable?” He then states, “It’s baffling to me. They’re all public services, and charging money for them is ridiculous.”

Daryl Pinksen comments on the claim that a tuition increase at MUN would drive students to other universities “No, they won’t head elsewhere. If they can’t afford it here, how would moving somewhere with even higher tuition, a higher cost of living, and the additional cost of travelling to and from help?”

Anne-Maria Gionet brings up a story of her children attending MUN, “We live in Ontario. When my daughter chose MUN, the lower tuition was a definite factor in the decision to let her move to NL. She has remained in your amazing province, and my hubby & I plan to retire there. My son attends University in Ontario (couldn’t convince him otherwise). The high cost of his education would be a deterrent to many students.”

“Don’t force our kids into poverty. Let’s see spending at MUN first.”

Tonya Lynn Organ

Tonya Lynn Organ says, “Raise tuition during a pandemic? This makes no sense at all. Start cutting at the top. Don’t force our kids into poverty. Let’s see spending at MUN first.”

Mary Hiscock states, “They should NOT put tuition up! A post-secondary education is NOT what it was in the past. It is NOT a golden ticket. How is it good for the economy to saddle young people with MORE debt?! Governments blah-blah then waste all our money on big construction projects. Governments blah-blah then bailout big corps. Governments blah-blah then let the mega-rich not pay taxes.”

Michael White comments on the MUN’s infrastructure woes, “The maintenance backlog at the university (often given as a reason to increase fees) is not as a result of low tuition but of low government support for post-secondary education. While the government needs to address its fiscal mess, the only way to a secure provincial economy is with a highly educated population and top-notch internet service in rural Newfoundland.”

Matt Barter is a third-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.

After the long-awaited release of the Newfoundland and Labrador post-secondary education review report on April 29th, it received much backlash on social media for its recommendation to replace the tuition freeze and increase tuition at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) and the College of the North Atlantic (CONA).

Katie Emily Roberts states, “Increasing tuition would be one of the worst moves MUN could make for themselves as an institution and the overall Newfoundland economy. One of the sole reasons people attend MUN is because it has affordable tuition – and even then, the majority of our student population is depending on loans to scrape by.” Roberts states that a tuition increase would likely deter out-of-province applicants from applying due to it being one of MUN’s significant attractions. She also says that many of the students in the province would leave to attend more prominent universities with more opportunities and diverse programming. “If students that grew up here leave, they are less likely to return and contribute to the workforce here in the province,” says Roberts. She also states that “if out of province applicants decline in numbers, there is a much lower likelihood they would choose later employment here.”

“Post-secondary education is an area that this province should embrace to allow the provincial economy to flourish.”

Katie Emily Roberts

Roberts then commented on the student university experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, “On top of all this, the financial burdens of paying full fees this past year for an ‘online university experience’ due to the ongoing pandemic felt unfair, to say the least. Adding an increase in tuition on top of this would be the icing on the cake, adding even more negativity and creating a larger barrier for students looking to achieve a higher education.” Roberts states that “post-secondary education is an area that this province should embrace to allow the provincial economy to flourish, and by decreasing the appeal of the low tuition costs and increasing financial barriers that go hand in hand with education, they are doing just the opposite.”

Wilda Philpott states, “No, it’s expensive enough as it is. There are many out there that can’t afford to go, and they have so much talent. “

Cathy Murphy comments on student debt, “Most people don’t want their kids to start off with such debt, mind you people have and will continue to do so…. but raising the tuition will make it so that only rich families will have kids in university…. most young people don’t want to go into so much debt either considering the job market is not stable these days….”

Matthew Fuchs states regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, “I don’t see how this is advisable given the pandemic we are in and the fact that post-secondary will undoubtedly be a part of building back better. Further, any extra dollar in tuition is a dollar less in public grant money to the university. Seems the Federal Government has an appetite for bringing tuition down across Canada and move to needs-based grants, not loans.”

“Let’s not make rash decisions we may come to regret in the future by shooting ourselves in the foot cutting things for the sake of cuts.”

Matthew Fuchs

Fuchs then states that he does not think that the province currently has a clear understanding of the fiscal reality. He says that the models are changing and that fiscal relationships between the federal government and provincial government are changing in that there is money spent that was not before. Fuchs says that the province could be into a whole different paradigm in 12 months with a new deal. He states, “Let’s not make rash decisions we may come to regret in the future by shooting ourselves in the foot cutting things for the sake of cuts.” Fuchs says that the province can find revenues in other ways.

Thomas Michael brings up the relationship between increases in tuition and government funding. He states, “Time and time again when universities increase tuition, the response by government is to cut funding.” He says that the government’s thoughts are along the lines of, ‘you are now receiving more money from students, so you do not need as much from us.’ He says that the net result does not mean more funding for the university but burdens students with a larger bill for the same product.

He states, “The university is one of the greatest strengths of this province. Tuition needs to stay affordable to attract intelligent, hardworking youth from other provinces and abroad.” He then raises the issue of living expenses, “It also needs to be low enough to account for the new costs of living these incoming students will have (housing, vehicle, food, etc. that some would receive from their family if they stayed home to attend their local universities).” He says that once a student is here, they are more likely to stay, start a family, get a job, and create a life in the province. He emphasizes that getting young people here is often the most challenging part. He states that “The tuition freeze has been one of the greatest acts by the NL government. It prioritized an educated and motivated future for Newfoundland. Doing away with it will not result in an improved university experience and will likely cause a decreased influx of students from abroad.”

“Tuition needs to stay affordable to attract intelligent, hardworking youth from other provinces and abroad.”

Thomas Michael

Terry McDonald states, “In a world where higher education is more necessary all the time, the last thing we should do is make it more expensive. Shooting your future in the foot.”

Dillon Budden says, “Affordable education is one of the few things this province actually has going for it.”

Wilma Norman raises a point about Muskrat Falls, “We managed to waste millions on the Muskrat Falls debacle, which has sadly and ironically, ensured us an increase in electricity rates as opposed to a decrease. Imagine if we had those wasted funds for higher education? In NL, imagination and vision has been in very short supply.”

Regarding the lavish salary that the president at MUN makes, Desmond Hepditch states, “Specialist doctors in the province do not make that much, and she is just a paper pusher.”

Hailey Robyn Gosse responds to the commentary claiming that the tuition freeze is a handout, “The cost of university tuition is already too high for many young people without making it more expensive again. There are way too many people commenting on this matter who are not students or staff themselves. Nobody is asking for a ‘handout.’ Education should be a right, not a luxury. Let young people start their lives/careers without piles and piles of student debt.”

Along with the issue of Muskrat Falls, Ross Canning also brings up the issue of MHA salaries. He asks, “How much has it cost the taxpayers of this province to have 40 MHAs since 2005?” He then says that Education Minister Tom Osborne has been an MHA since 1996 and asks, “How has that costed the taxpayers of this province, in salaries and benefits?”

Christopher Darlington says, “University Education should be free, as in the student pays nothing to go. It an investment by our government into its citizens.” He then states that our government should invest in its citizens instead of investment in wealthy corporations and people. He says that the government giving oil companies subsidies is socialism for the rich. Darlington states, “stop giving the rich socialism and everyone else capitalism. It is absurd. An oil company needs help to make money? Or Amazon so they can build a warehouse, pay no taxes and pay people a pittance? Pathetic. Let’s invest in our people instead.”

Chuckey Hull states, “you have a politician say how much the tuition freeze has cost to governments bottom line, but nothing about the boondoggle that Muskrat Falls is going to cost the next 5 generations. Me personally, I think that post-secondary education should be free….as [long] as you have the marks in high school to back up what you want to do.”

Ian Gillies raises a point about Nalcor bonuses, “Is that less than we have paid out in the last couple of years in bonuses at Nalcor? Nalcor money went to a dozen people, mostly not NLers, for no reason over 2 or 3 years and MUN money helped 10’s of thousands of Newfoundlanders over 15 years.”

Angela Best states, “this taxpayer is perfectly fine with tax dollars going to education! If ‘they’ want to cut, then start at the top and within government! Furey did not blink an eye when he made his cabinet bigger and cost the taxpayers more did he!! Leave the freeze in place! And go find your 30pcs of silver elsewhere!!”

“Now that a high school education is not sufficient, but degrees and trades are needed to be successful… it would only make sense to extend funding to post-secondary education.”

Angela Bradbury

Angela Bradbury says that “If we had more educated people, we would make better use of our resources, and we would then have reason for people to stay here. Better education has never had a negative impact on a society.” She then brings up a point about the K-12 school system, “Why do you think K-12 has been government-funded? It is because educating our people is the best thing for our society. When a high school diploma was considered a good education, the government decided that it was best to invest tax dollars in education. Now that a high school education is not sufficient, but degrees and trades are needed to be successful and to benefit our society, economy, etc., it would only make sense to extend funding to post-secondary education.”

Bradbury then states, “Education creates jobs. Some people do stay in the province, and having them educated will lead to a better economy. Then more people will be able to afford to stay because there will be more jobs and a better economy. And with much less student debt, people will not have to go away to work just to pay it off.”

Stewart T. Hughes says, “That’s money well spent as far as I am concerned. I wonder what the government would have wasted $700 million on if they had got it from the pockets of students in the last 16 years.”

Shawn Holloway states, “Most students are living on Kraft dinner struggle to pay rent and finish up to their eyeballs in debt when it comes to education Canada can take a lesson from Norway.”

Jason Ivany says, “Short-sightedness as usual. How much revenue did the province attract from students that could afford an education and stayed in the province and paid taxes? 700 million over 15 years is about what 1/10 of the cost overruns of Muskrat Falls.”

Jenn Brown asks, “How much has the tuition freeze CONTRIBUTED to the province?” She then states that “Education is a right. MUN used to be free to attend for your first year (many politicians in our gov’t benefited from that). If we want our population to succeed and advance (and stay here), we need to provide accessible education.” She then asks, “Why do you think folks study at MUN, or why thousands of international students move here and make the province their home and contribute to our economy?”

Matt Barter is a third-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.