Recently I had a chat, via teleconference with Denise Savoie, Victoria’s MP and Jack Layton, the leader of the federal NDP. The conversation revolved around the recent issues concerning post-secondary educational systems and the larger NDP platform for the upcoming election.

Savoie talked about how the NDP is making an effort to ensure students have the proper resources to finish school without financial burdens. Savoie pointed out that in British Columbia there are programs available to help students more easily re-pay their debts and to help decrease the overall debt amount.

Layton added that the current state of Canadian doctors’ educational debt is so high that some of them need to further their education with some form of specialization, in order to re-pay their student loans.

When asked about the NDP’s approach to improving post-secondary school transfer of credits, Layton replied that educational program regulations in Canada were in dire need of re-assessment. He also added that once program regulation improvements are achieved, students wouldn’t have to worry as much about which schools they attend, and whether they would find a job in their field.
Layton concluded the interview by saying that he hoped constituents in our riding, and all ridings, take the time to understand each platform behind the person when they vote on October 14.