VICTORIA - The Opposition New Democrats say post-secondary students in British Columbia are being hit with 'sneaky' fee hikes above the government's two per cent cap on tuition hikes.
Advanced education critic Kathy Corrigan says colleges and universities are levying hundreds of dollars in extra fees on students with government approval despite a cap.
Corrigan accuses Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson of turning a blind eye to the recent increases, suggesting his ministry advises post-secondary institutions on ways to introduce new fees.
She says North Island College published a newsletter last year explaining it introduced a $5 resource fee per course credit on ministry advice.
Wilkinson says his ministry monitors fee increases at post-secondary institutions, adding the schools can charge extra fees beyond the tuition cap for new programs and services.
Shortly after the issue was raised in the legislature, Wilkinson's ministry released a letter that reminds post-secondary institutions of the two per cent tuition cap but notes fees can be charged for new programs.
