April 17, 2003

CALGARY – The debate on whether public funding for post-secondary education is a cost or an investment will be the theme of AUPE’s annual Education Sector Conference May 8-10 in Canmore.

Questions of how post-secondary education should be financed will dominate the sessions at the conference – with seminars and panels by educators, economists and other experts from throughout the political spectrum.
"We will have people from the left and the right, and we will vigorously debate the question of whether public education is a cost or an investment," said Steve Nimchuk, the AUPE Union Representative who is organizing the three-day event.

Among the expected speakers will be Learning Minister Lyle Oberg, Erika Shaker, director of the left-of-centre Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, and Fred McMahon, a director of the right-wing Fraser Institute.
CBC Radio One host Don Hill has agreed to moderate a panel and a radio broadcast on the question of how best to fund post-secondary education.

Participants will also gain practical information on the return on investment higher education produces and the operations of the Alberta government’s standing policy committees.

"The AUPE Education Sector Co-ordinating Committee is inviting others to attend this conference," Nimchuk said. "Registration spots are available for faculty associations, student associations and administrators. Groups or individuals interesting in attending should contact me."

AUPE represents more than 7,500 non-academic employees of Alberta universities, colleges and technical institutes, including the University of Calgary, University of Lethbridge, SAIT and NAIT, Medicine Hat College, Lakeland College and NorQuest College.

For more information on the conference, including contacts for registration, click here.

For more information, contact:
Steve Nimchuk, Union Representative, AUPE, 780-930-3341, 1-800-232-7284 (press 1), or s.nimchuk@aupe.org