(July 16, 2021) – Barry Petten, PC Opposition Shadow Minister of Education and MHA for Conception Bay South, says the Liberal government forcing Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador to hike tuition without addressing administrative bloat at the university is an injustice to students at home and abroad.

This week, Petten met with representatives from the Canadian Federation of Students and Memorial University president Vianne Timmons to study the affects of the proposed tuition hikes for the university.

“After meeting with those at the centre of this proposal, I believe the priorities are out of order. To raise revenues on the backs of students at home and abroad without taking a meaningful look at the expenditures of the university is a backward approach to the issues facing Memorial,” said Petten.

“I was glad to hear President Timmons agree with the PC caucus’ call for the auditor general to review Memorial University expenditures during our meeting this week. We need to ensure expenses are in order before hiking tuition. That way, if indeed a tuition hike is needed, the impact on students can be mitigated as much as possible.”

The 2020 compensation disclosure for Memorial University shows 314 employees making over $150,000. Of those 314, 85 are in administrative roles.

Petten says erasing the tuition freeze without determining the impact of administrative bloat on the university is not good enough.

“There are serious, legitimate questions to ask about the expenditures of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. The administrative bloat at the university continues to go up – and now students are being asked to take those expenses on the chin. It’s not right,” said Petten.

Petten says government needs to stop looking at making public institutions more expensive as their go-to option and instead find ways to manage the administrative expenses.

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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca