For Immediate Release: September 14^th 2011

(Halifax) – University students in Nova Scotia are returning to classes in the only Canadian province to reduce operating funding to universities this year. The Alliance of Nova Scotia Student Associations (ANSSA) released a report today to remind the government that public spending in post-secondary education is an investment with predictable economic and social returns, and not simply a cost to be contained.

A copy of the report will be sent to each member of the legislative assembly.

Key Points from the report

Social Impact

• Individuals with higher education are more likely to vote, volunteer, donate blood, give charitably, purchase earth friendly products, reduce their energy use and express openness to the opinions of other people.
• Individuals with higher education are less likely to be arrested, incarcerated or commit criminal offenses
• The cost of keeping a criminal in prison for two years ($204,000) is more than the government will ever spend subsidizing a citizen’s elementary, secondary and undergraduate education ($177,530).

Public Spending and Revenue Collection

• University degree holders made up just 22 per cent of the Canadian population in 2008, yet contributed 41 per cent of all income tax and received only 14 per cent of government transfers.

Health

• Individuals with higher education are more likely to report their health as very good or excellent and are more efficient in their use of health knowledge
• These individuals are less likely to smoke, have narcotics addictions, to be obese and are more likely to exercise.

Economic Impact

• Nova Scotia universities are responsible for an annual contribution of $968 million in gross domestic product, $227 million in tax revenue, $4.3 billion in economic output, $805.2 million in spending.
• Universities directly and indirectly support 17,000 jobs

Research

• Universities are the main research hubs in the region, attracting 61% of all research activity and more than $125 million in funding.
• Excellence in research allows Nova Scotian to attract top researchers, academics and business to the province to further develop the provincial economy.

Pull Quotes

“The benefits we’ve illustrated will only be realized if we maintain and improve the quality and accessibility of our university system. In cutting funding to education at every level, our government is starving the goose that lays the golden egg.

- Mark Coffin, Executive Director, ANSSA

“The government of Nova Scotia has the opportunity to improve the accessibility of the university system in Nova Scotia as they create a long term funding agreement and tuition policy over the next four months. A more educated Nova Scotia will be a healthier, safer, more law-abiding and more civically engaged Nova Scotia.”

-       Kyle Power, Chair, ANSSA

The report “ANSWERS: Higher education’s role as a catalyst for social and economic progress in Nova Scotia” is available here.

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