Today the PC Party of Saskatchewan is announcing its policies on education and First Nations.  The area of education has always been a priority of Saskatchewan people since the very founding of our province.  The building of a school was always one of the first priorities of our pioneer forefathers.  Continuing that tradition of providing a first-class educational opportunity in the face of dramatic population shifts from rural to urban and from reserve to urban means Saskatchewan people must be as innovative as we were one hundred years ago. 
PC Leader Rick Swenson adds, “An educated workforce will guarantee Saskatchewan’s continued strong economy as we develop further our many resources.  That educational opportunity must be afforded to all of our citizens.  First Nations people will only be able to share in the Saskatchewan dream if they have a quality education and job opportunities.”
EDUCATION 

• Return the provincial cost-share of education back to the 60/40 split as it was under the last PC government.
• The government’s 60% share stays with the student no matter where the student attends at accredited educational institution. 
• All new funding for post-secondary education should go towards the disciplines which are in short supply to keep our economy growing. 
• A PC Party government would implement a system of bursaries to graduating students who stay in the province in areas of skill shortages for a guaranteed time frame.
• New systems of distance education must be explored and the contribution of local communities in achieving these new ideas must be recognized and rewarded.  Children in rural Saskatchewan must have a quality of life equal to their urban counterparts.  There is a limit to busing and school closures for both children and taxpayers.

FIRST NATIONS

• Establish a First Nations employment directorate to assist First Nations people in matching their education to skilled job openings. 
• Establish a labour law that requires all available employment positions in Saskatchewan to be posted on a Department of Labour and Employment site for everyone’s equal access.