VANCOUVER - For the fourth time this week, the B.C. government has waved its magic wand and transformed a college into a university, but the NDP says the Liberals have been doing a disappearing act with funding for the same institutions.
Rob Fleming, the NDP's advanced education critic, said some of these same colleges are busy laying off faculty and chopping programs because of funding cuts.
But Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell said "misinformation'' about post-secondary budgets is hurting students and institutions, adding there's no truth to claims that colleges are planning massive staff layoffs and program cuts.
"I fully respect people's right to express an opinion but higher learning is about truth and people should therefore base their statements on facts,'' Coell said in a statement Friday.
"This year alone, operating funding to B.C.'s 25 public post-secondary institutions will increase by more than $68 million,'' he said.
Capilano College in North Vancouver is the latest to get university status, which will give students access to degree-granting programs at its main campus and satellite sites in Squamish and on the Sunshine Coast.
Earlier in the week, the government announced Kwantlen College in Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley College and Malaspina College on Vancouver Island will all become universities.
