Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA candidate Gwendoline Dirk is joined by NDP advanced education critic David Eggan and other party officials Monday to speak on proposed investments in post-secondary education.--NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING
kking@medicinehatnews.com
NDP candidate for Brooks-Medicine Hat Gwendoline Dirk turned her campaign’s attention toward post-secondary students on Monday.
A former teacher and professor of Adult Development at Medicine Hat College, Dirk returned to MHC’s campus Monday to speak on her belief that investment in advanced education yields long-term economic returns for the region. And to denounce UCP-implemented funding cuts to both institutions and student financial aid programs.
“Higher education is so important for the future,” said Dirk. “If we don’t offer a robust education system in the province, we’re going to start to lose our young people – they’re going to start to seek opportunities elsewhere.
“In the past three years, some $690 million has been cut to post-secondary education; $3 million alone for MHC. (But) we, the NDP, know that advanced education is important for the economic future of our province (so) we’re committed to properly funding higher education.”
Joining Dirk were several notable members of the NDP, including advanced education critic David Eggen, who underscored the role post-secondary institutions play in not only growing the economy, but also the region’s workforce.
“Now more than ever, we need to make sure we are diversifying our economy and we’re making places for young people to get affordable education and to have choices to stay here in Medicine Hat, in the region, in our province,” said Eggen.
As well as promising investments in advanced education, Eggen also said the NDP plan to reverse UCP cuts to operating capital and lower tuition. But, he suggests, such changes can be implemented without risk of a provincial deficit.
With two weeks left until election day, Dirk says she is continually engaging with constituents in an effort to further develop an understanding of their needs and outlooks, as well as working with established party members to share her platform.
While Alberta Party candidate Barry Morishita also plans to make changes to advanced education funding and tuition costs if elected, UCP candidate Premier Danielle Smith has shared little on her stance regarding advanced education, but has openly spoke on her desire to introduce more autonomy into the field of education, whether be through lifting vaccine mandates for students or increasing funding for private K-12 schools.
