Our statement on expansion of tuition waiver program for former youth in care

Weaver and Furstenau statement on expansion of tuition waiver program for former youth in care
For​ ​Immediate​ ​Release
September 1,​ ​2017

Victoria – Today Andrew Weaver, Leader​ ​of​ ​the​ ​B.C.​ ​Green​ Party​ ​and​ ​MLA​ ​for​ ​Oak​ ​Bay-Gordon​ ​Head,​ ​and Sonia​ ​Furstenau,​ ​Deputy Leader of the B.C. Green Party and MLA​ ​for​ ​Cowichan​ ​Valley, responded to the government’s announcement that they will expand the tuition waiver program for former youth in care to include all 25 public post-secondary institutions in B.C.

“I welcome the government’s announcement that they are expanding the tuition waiver program for former youth in care to all 25 public post-secondary institutions in B.C.”, said Andrew Weaver.

“This decision has the potential to transform the lives of youth who grew up in care across B.C. Removing the financial barriers to further education empowers these young people to seize the opportunities that only education affords.

“There is no better investment that government can make than in education and in the lives of our young people.

“It is unacceptable that so many young people who have aged out of care are facing such significant challenges and hardships without adequate support from government.

“Removing the financial barriers to further education is one critical support. I look forward to working with this government on future initiatives to further support our youth in care, to enable them to lead healthy, safe and fulfilling lives.”

Sonia Furstenau continued, “This decision is an example of government implementing good public policy through learning from local leadership and building on local models of success.

“I’m very pleased to see this government recognizing the outstanding leadership of Ralph Nilson and Vancouver Island University, and I applaud them for expanding this program across B.C. This decision will make a real difference in the lives of some of our most vulnerable youth in our province.”

-30-

Media​ ​contact
Sarah​ ​Miller,​ ​Acting​ ​Press​ ​Secretary
+1​ ​250-858-9891​​ ​|​ ​​sarah.miller@leg.bc.ca