"In the budget we found out that government cut student employment programs by millions," said Ms. Thistle. "Last week we discovered that cutbacks have reduced work-term funding for Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic by over 70 per cent. How can the minister look at students and now praise up a program that her government just gutted? Why has she not made note of the hundreds of students who did not have the opportunity to avail of government’s student work programs because of her funding cuts?

"If the minister truly wanted to provide an update on student employment programs this summer, she should update us on how this government’s cutbacks will impact post-secondary students. The Minister must also answer for the $3 million for the cancelled tax relief program which allowed students to get a tax credit when paying their student loans. Sugar coating these cutbacks with an attempted "good news" announcement will not fly with the student population of our province. We need tangible results, not empty rhetoric. It is clear by the actions of this government that they have no commitment to our students or post-secondary education system."