VANCOUVER – New Democrat advanced education critic David Eby is beginning a province-wide advanced education tour by meeting with students in the Okanagan to listen to their concerns about the state of post-secondary education.

“Access to education and growing student debt are serious challenges facing today’s students,” said Eby. “This tour is about getting into the province’s diverse communities, connecting with students, meeting with faculty, and really listening to what they have to say.”

Kelowna, Merritt, and Kamloops mark the first three stops in Eby’s month-long tour of British Columbia. He will visit the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus, the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology and Thompson Rivers University.

“Students have legitimate concerns and they deserve to be heard,” said Eby. “I’m looking forward to hearing them first hand so I can take them back to the legislature and fight for more accessible and affordable learning opportunities.”

B.C.’s New Democrats are pushing the B.C. Liberal government for better affordable post-secondary education, including creating a $100 million non-repayable student grant program.