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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
PRESIDENT'S OFFICE
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BURNABY BRITISH COLUMBIA V5A 156
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Telephone: (604) 291-4641
February 9, 1990
Rt. Hon. M. Brian Mulroney
Prime Minister
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
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Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
We write with regard to the crisis facing the funding of universities in this
country. As you are aware, the major source of funding is through EPF transfer
payments to the provincial governments. Last year the rate of growth in the EPF was
reduced by 1% effective in the fiscal year 199
0
U/1 11
91 (Bill C-33).
We urge you to demonstrate your frequently articulated commitment to higher
education by rejecting the option of a budget reduction in transfer payments for post-
secondary education. At the very least we urge you to postpone any changes to the
present EPF legislation until the outcome of the proposed federal provincial task force
on Human Resource Develo
p ment is known.
Although the direct constitutional responsibility for higher education in this
country rests with the provinces, it is critical that a national position provides priority to
the funding of post-secondary educational institutions across the country, and that it be
firmly stated and appropriately funded. Any change in EPF legislation would have the
effect of further reductions in the transfer payments and, at this time, would have a
devastating effect on the quality of our universities and other post-secondary
institutions nationally.
We urge you in the strongest possible terms to take the course of action outlined
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above. We thank you in advance for the careful consideration of this view, which we
are confident it will receive.
Yours sincerely,
William G. S
ell
President
WGS/led
C:
Hon. Michael H. Wilson, PC
Minister
House of Commons
All B.C. Cabinet Ministers
All P.C. Members of Parliament
Michael Fellman
President, Faculty Association
Roberto Zanatta
President, Student Society
.
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