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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

PRESIDENT'S OFFICE

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

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

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

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