Canadian students have given the New Democratic Party's post-secondary education plan the best grades overall, welcoming the proposal to introduce a Post-Secondary Education Act to oversee federal funding increases to the provinces.

"Canada has a national vision for healthcare enshrined in the Canada Health Act. It is long overdue to have the same leadership and vision for post-secondary education," said Katherine Giroux-Bougard, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), in a recent media release supporting the NDP's platform.

Halifax NDP candidate Megan Leslie says Jack Layton and the New Democrats are committed to lowering tuition fees and ensuring the highest quality education for Canadian students, regardless of which province or territory they study in.

"We will guarantee dedicated federal transfers for education, allowing provinces to make necessary investments in quality and accessibility," said Leslie, a Dalhousie University Law School graduate and community legal worker who has been working with CFS and other groups on the Eligibility for Students in Need campaign in Nova Scotia.

In addition to a Post-Secondary Education Act, the NDP will provide a $1000 grant for student loan recipients; increase financial support for in-demand professionals, such as doctors and nurses; and reform the Canada Student Loan system. The NDP is also committed to encouraging the best young minds to stay here in Canada by increasing funding for university and college-based research, and for graduate and post-graduate studies.

For more information on the NDP's "Education Opportunity Plan" visit www.ndp.ca/platform