WINNIPEG -- The Manitoba government will be directly matching all funds raised for scholarships and bursaries for post-secondary institutions in the province.
Premier Brian Pallister made the announcement during a news conference Wednesday afternoon at the Manitoba legislature, saying it will help lessen the burden on fundraising for post-secondary institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is a challenge for post-secondary institutions any time to raise money for scholarships and bursaries,” he said. “With the economy in the present state it’s in, we expect that these challenges will not be less.”
The program will be in place for one year.
The previous program introduced in 2016 saw one dollar of funding from the provincial government for every two dollars raised by a college or university.
“It’s important that we maintain our strong partnership with post-secondary institutions, and our shared vision for access to education as something worth investing in.”
Pallister also announced the province will be increasing funding for the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative by an addition $5 million this year, up from $10 million originally announced in the provincial budget.
The announcement comes as the provincial government has ordered universities and colleges to cut labour costs over the summer as a way to help minimize the economic impact from the pandemic. Layoffs, job-sharing and reduced work weeks are among the items floated to help cut costs.
Pallister was unable to say how many jobs would be affected.
"That'll be determined by the management decisions that are made, in discussion and consultation with the labour force that they manage," he said.
The Opposition New Democrats accused Pallister of hiding the real numbers.
"This government has definitely received information that would tell them how many jobs are going to be cut as a result of ... the orders that they're giving," NDP Leader Wab Kinew said.
Universities and colleges have shifted to virtual classrooms in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is currently unclear when classes will resume.
-With Files from The Canadian Press
