Province considers tuition rebate

Manitoba's NDP government is studying some kind of tuition rebate for university and college graduates, in an effort to put a plug on the province's brain drain.

The idea has been touted as a solution to the problem of university and college students leaving the province after they finish school. Details of a proposed rebate may be announced as early as Wednesday's Speech from the Throne.

Premier Gary Doer wouldn't discuss any details Tuesday, only saying thatan announcement is coming.

"Bottom line is, the public will know we continue to move Manitoba forward. That I promise,"Doer said.

A spokesperson for the province said Tuesday it is looking at a model similar to one in New Brunswick, which offers a university or college tuition rebate of up to 50 per cent to a maximum of $10,000.

Overdue plan

Such a plan is overdue, said Graham Starmer, president of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. As well, he stressed that the rebate plan must be connected to employment in the province.

"While we give them credit for looking outside of the box to New Brunswick and other areas, we caution them to not [be] providing it through the tax system," Starmer said Tuesday.

"This is just one step in a many-step process. That unless we had a whole menu of these, we're not going to retain the students, because unless they have a good, well-paying job to go here in Manitoba, how can you expect them to stay?"

Opposition Leader Hugh McFadyen said Tuesday that the Tories floated a similar initiative years ago, adding that what he's seen of the NDP's proposed plan is "not enough in terms of the variety of issues we face as a community," he said.

Lt.-Gov. John Harvard will read the Speech from the Throne to open the fifth session of the 38th Manitoba legislature on Wednesday afternoon.