There is consensus in the post-secondary education community that the current design of federal transfers has failed to ensure that students across the country have equitable access to a high quality system of post-secondary education.

While some discussions have centred on moving post-secondary education from the CST into a dedicated transfer payment, doing so would be merely symbolic unless the federal government attaches conditions to the funding. The Canadian Federation of Students and Canadian Association of University Teachers argue that the most effective way to support an affordable and high quality post-secondary education system is through a federal act that would enshrine Canada-wide standards and define the requirements of transfer payments.

An act would tie funding to a commitment from the provinces to uphold a set of principles, namely public administration, affordability, comprehensiveness, collegial governance, and academic freedom. In return for upholding these principles, provincial governments would receive increased and predictable funding from the federal government.

Currently, Canada’s health care system serves as a living example of the type of federal-provincial relationship being contemplated by many in the higher education community. The Canada Health Transfer provides accountability to the federal government for the large sums of money transferred and guarantees the provinces stable funding. The federal Ministry of Health oversees the transfer, ensuring that the provinces comply with the standards set out in the Canada Health Act.

At a time when post-secondary education is becoming vital to Canada’s long-term economic and social health, it is increasingly essential that the federal government live up to its responsibility to ensure that every student in every province has equal access to post-secondary education.