Students welcome Horner to post-secondary portfolio

Hon. Doug Horner, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology.

New cabinet minister could be good news for university students

(Edmonton, AB) - Student leaders are pleased with Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach's recent appointment of Doug Horner as the new Minister of Advanced Education and Technology.

"We're pleased to hear that a respected member of the last cabinet was appointed to such a high profile post," said David Cournoyer, Vice President (External) of the U of A Students' Union.

Prior to this appointment, Horner served as Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Development under former Premier Ralph Klein. He is a second-term MLA for Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert with a background in rural business and development.

Premier Stelmach has also ranked the ministry as the second-most senior, just behind the newly-created President of the Treasury Board.

The new ministry also houses the former Ministry of Innovation and Science, which was rolled in with Advanced Education. The Premier's instructions to Horner, contained in the Dec. 15 Mandate Letter, indicate an expectation for the new ministry to spearhead value-added and technology commercialization initiatives for economic diversification.

"Based on how the Premier is positioning Advanced Education," Cournoyer added, "it would seem that the sector will remain front and centre for the time being. Hopefully this will foster new opportunities for students and the public to push for reductions in tuition rates, student finance reform that is based more on grants and not loans, as well as repair and improvements in school infrastructure."

Cournoyer also serves as the Chair of the Council of Alberta University Students.

For more information, please contact:

David Cournoyer
Vice President (External)
University of Alberta Students' Union
P: 780.492.4236
E: vp.external@su.ualberta.ca
W: www.su.ualberta.ca