The new Manitoba government isn't wasting time getting down to work to increase support for post secondary students in Manitoba.

Premier Brian Pallister was at Brandon University for a round table.

Pallister met Friday with local business leaders and educational stakeholders in Brandon at a round table to discuss the importance of private-sector support for the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative.

“An investment in Manitoba students is an investment in the future of our province,” said Pallister. “By increasing scholarship and bursary funding, we can ensure that students have every opportunity to pursue a quality education that will position them to contribute to a better province.”

The roundtable was the first step toward the new Government of Manitoba’s commitment to partnering with business to double the amount of scholarship and bursary funding available for students, the premier noted.

“It's great to be back at my old school to talk about such an important issue as education, students and funding.”

The Manitoba government is committed to:
• raising the total funding available to over $20 million by increasing the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative fund to $6.75 million, with a one-third matching component from government to allow for more private donors;
• working with post-secondary advisory councils and industry to promote scholarship and bursary programs with strong labour market outcomes and employment potential; and
• working with public and private-sector partners to develop an effective long-term plan integrating financial needs of students with quality job opportunities.

“Today’s meeting reinforced that strong relationships with community stakeholders will yield positive results,” said the premier. “I look forward to working with business and community leaders from across Manitoba to improve education opportunities for students.”