CUPE says NS government misleading public about university funding

Posted on Wed, Apr 08 2009

Last week’s announcement from the MacDonald government that it wants to spend an additional $256 million on Nova Scotia universities is an attempt to mislead Nova Scotians, says CUPE Local 3912 President and Acadia University Sociology Professor Barb Moore. “This money is not additional money. In fact, 80% of it is already accounted for as the provincial grant to universities for the fiscal year 2009-10. It is simply a reflection of the funding levels agreed to in the three-year memorandum of understanding between the universities and the provincial government.”

“Finance Minister Jamie Muir is not being straight with Nova Scotians when he characterizes this as ‘extra’ money for the sector,” says Moore. “This is not new money and should not be characterized as such. For them to try and use this as some kind of political wedge with the opposition parties is a sign of a government that is in its dying days.”

CUPE Local 3912 represents part-time academic staff at Dalhousie, Mount Saint Vincent and St. Mary’s universities.