Not 24 hours after the 2011 Saskatchewan provincial election officially got underway, Premier Brad Wall made his first campaign promise addressing the costs of post-secondary education.

Late Oct. 10, Wall made his formal visit to the Lieutenant-Governor asking him to dissolve legislature and issue the writ of election. By early Oct. 11, Wall introduced the Saskatchewan Party’s plan to help potential post-secondary students, if re-elected.

Wall announced two new initiatives — the Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship and the Saskatchewan Advantage Grant for Education Savings.

“Beginning in 2012, the Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship will provide every new Saskatchewan high school graduate with up to $2,000 which can be applied to reduce tuition fees at any Saskatchewan post-secondary institution or any recognized training course in the province,” said a Saskatchewan Party news release.

The second initiative, the Saskatchewan Advantage Grant for Education Savings, builds on the previously implemented Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) program. On top of the 20 per cent grant funded by the federal government, the Sask Party plans to “match 10 per cent of contributions to a child’s RESP account, to a maximum of $250 each year.”

However, the opposition NDP quickly fired back by late afternoon Oct. 11 via news release, pointing to the NDP instituted tuition freeze which the Sask Party ended when they took office in 2007. Since, average full-time undergraduate tuition in Saskatchewan is up $568.

“Saskatchewan will be the best place in Canada to save for your education, the best place in Canada to receive your education and the best place in Canada to live and work after you complete your education,” Wall said.

—
Image: Supplied