SaskatchewanAt a news conference Thursday, Tajinder Grewal, the NDP’s advanced education critic, highlighted the jump in tuition levels since Scott Moe became premier. In 2017-18, the average tuition in the province was $7,257. This year, it’s $9,863 — an increase of 36 per cent. MLAs collecting signatures on petition calling for lower feesJeffery Tram · CBC News · Posted: Sep 12, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 6 hours agoThe University of Regina increased tuition by four per cent for the 2025-26 year. The NDP is collecting signatures on a petition calling for lower tuition at post-secondary institutions in Saskatchewan. (Kirk Fraser/CBC)The Saskatchewan NDP is calling for tuition to be lowered in the province, pointing to data published this week by Statistics Canada that shows students in the province pay the highest fees in the country outside Atlantic Canada.At a news conference Thursday, Tajinder Grewal, the NDP’s advanced education critic, highlighted the jump in tuition levels since Scott Moe became premier. In 2017-18, the average tuition in the province was $7,257. This year, it’s $9,863 — an increase of 36 per cent. “Instead of investing in our kids’ futures, Scott Moe’s government is saddling them with crushing debt,” Grewal said.This fall, the University of Saskatchewan increased tuition by 3.8 per cent and the University of Regina by four per cent.Kebron Giday, a first-year student at the University of Regina, said expenses add up even more after tuition, including paying for parking and textbooks.”I pay for my tuition. I pay for everything else, it’s crazy,” Giday said. “Everything you would think would be free and comes with tuition … it’s not.”Kebron Giday, a first-year student at the University of Regina, says expenses like parking and textbooks, on top of tuition fees, are also a burden. (Kirk Fraser/CBC)For Sarah Willson, another student, the cost of living adds another layer of difficulty.”As a student when you’re only working part time, you can’t work a full-time job. That’s impossible,” she said. “Then you think about your housing, your rent, the cost of groceries, your gas, your transportation, your textbooks, your parking pass. It just adds up.”NDP blames chronic underfundingGrewal said the Saskatchewan Party government has a history of chronic underfunding of post-secondary institutions, saying that 20 years ago, the province covered about 60 per cent of universities’ operating budgets, compared to 50 per cent or less today.”Affordable tuition must be the bare minimum,” he said. “That’s the best investment we can make.”Grewal said tuition hikes are already driving young people to study in other provinces, worsening shortages in sectors like health care and education.The NDP has launched a petition calling for lower tuition, with MLAs and volunteers going door-to-door to gather signatures.In an emailed statement to CBC, the province said universities are autonomous and set their own tuition and fee rates. It also pointed to initiatives such as a 20 per cent increase in the graduate retention program, capping tuition increases at four per cent through a multi-year funding agreement and providing more than $113.4 million in direct supports through tax credits, grants, scholarships and student aid programs.The Morning Edition – SaskThe Morning Edition live from the University of ReginaWe are live from the University of Regina. You will hear from students reflecting on their first day, and their thoughts on AI. We also spoke with the VP of Research and a Post-Doctoral Researcher as well as a man who moved from a career in the military to the student life — And so much more!ABOUT THE AUTHORJeffery is a reporter with CBC Saskatchewan in Regina. He previously worked at CBC Toronto as an associate producer. You can reach him at jeffery.tram@cbc.ca.
Sask. NDP calls for lower tuition fees for post-secondary students
