March 28, 2000 For Immediate Release

Yesterday's Provincial Government budget announcement contains a number of initiatives that will help to increase access, enhance the quality of education, and help to build research capacity at UNBC. Particular initiatives include:

• An increase of more than $25 million in the operating grant of BC universities. This represents an increase of approximately 5%. The funding increase will help to offset inflation, create up to 1000 student spaces in BC universities, especially in high-tech programs and nursing, and strengthen core funding.
  
  
• $133 million is being committed for capital expansion at BC colleges, universities, and institutes. Part of this is for laboratory expansion at UNBC.
  
  
• $1 million will create 1,000 new co-op spaces for students in high-tech programs.
  
  
• The BC Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF) is being increased by $117 million. This money is available for universities, hospitals, and non-profit agencies to increase research capacity in BC. The provincial program works in concert with the Canada Foundation for Innovation, a national agency that provides funding to build research infrastructure. For example, the I.K. Barber Enhanced Forestry Lab that was opened earlier this month was built in part with $380,000 in BCKDF funds and $420,000 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation.
  
  
• Tuition fees for students remain frozen.
  "The key point of this budget are that it's funding access, helping to enhance the quality of our teaching and research, and providing opportunities for the University to seek expansion of the campus. Overall, it's very positive," says UNBC President Charles Jago. "In recent years, we've been seeing a growing gap between university revenues in BC compared with other provinces. BC for example, currently gets about 9% of federal research money despite the fact it has 13% of the population. This budget provides funding that will help universities - especially UNBC - grow and attract more federal funding. It's essential for the continued development of a knowledge economy in the North."