Of course we knew that the Pallister government would be going after public education. Last week it held hearings on its Bill 31.  As this CBC blog explains, “Bill 31, introduced in March and debated this week at the Manitoba Legislature, will permit university tuition fees to increase up to five per cent, plus the rate of inflation, on an annual basis. This means that tuition could potentially double in the next 10 to 12 years.”

According to authors Hajer and Saltis, “In an era of high inequality and emboldened intolerance, saving money by reducing access to education for our most vulnerable citizens has the potential to compromise Manitoba’s long-term social and economic interests.”

In other words, fewer Manitobans will have access to post-secondary education.

Once again this government has shown how tone deaf it is to the values Manitobans hold. The blog ends with a poignant quote from Barack Obama:

“If you think education is expensive, wait until you see how much ignorance costs in the 21st century.”