A college education doesn’t come cheap for anyone, but the Yukon NDP is proposing to save first-year Yukon College students from the territory anywhere from $940 to $3,450, depending on what program they are enrolled in.

With the Nov. 7 election campaign now in full swing, NDP Leader Liz Hanson unveiled a proposal Wednesday that would cover the tuition of Yukon students attending the college for their first year.

She said the proposal is estimated to cost the territory approximately $1 million annually.

She put forward the proposal in a noon-hour announcement at the college.

The official Opposition leader was surrounded by orange election signs and balloons, fellow NDP candidates, party supporters and college students and staff who offered their applause and cheers.

“This plan will remove barriers and make it easier to afford an education for those who otherwise couldn’t,” Hanson said.

“This plan will make it easier for Yukoners to upgrade their skills and take advantage of new opportunities. This plan will make it even more attractive for our best and brightest to stay here and put their skills to work in our economy.”

Exactly who would qualify as a Yukoner under the program remains an unknown.

It’s a question Hanson said would require discussion with college officials.

To ensure Yukoners benefit, there would be a residency requirement, she said.

That could mean having to show a high school diploma from one of the territory’s secondary schools.

However, as Hanson noted, not all long-time residents have gone to school in the territory.

She said residents who have lived in the Yukon for a number of years but did not attend high school in the territory could also be eligible.

Work would have to be done to determine how long that residency would be.

Officials might also look at the newly updated requirements to receive the Yukon grant, which goes to Yukon residents attending post-secondary programs at approved institutions.

The grant provides $135 for each week of study in an academic year along with a travel amount of $1,500 per year for airfare for students attending school outside the territory.

Other travel amounts are available through the grant to Yukon students from communities who are studying in Whitehorse.

Residency requirements for the grant require applicants to have completed two years of high school in the territory or be a resident for the two years before classes start.

Applicants younger than 20 are required to have lived in the territory continuously since the age of 14 and in other cases must have been a resident from the age of 14 to 18 as well as a resident for two years prior to classes.

Those are in addition to requirements that applicants be Canadian citizens or permanent residents; be enrolled as a full-time student at a designated institution; and not eligible to apply for financial assistance from an Outside jurisdiction.

Hanson noted that under the NDP program of providing first-year Yukon College tuition for Yukoners, students would also continue to be eligible for the full Yukon grant.

That means a student could have their tuition covered and receive $135 for each week of study in their first year.

As Hanson explained, the intent of the program is to “create more access” to education.

The NDP proposal would also apply to any program offered through the college.

“By making it easier to access an education, Yukoners will be able to start their education or upgrade their skills,” Hanson said.

“That’s key to attracting new investment, starting new businesses and kick-starting economic growth in new sectors.

“The Yukon NDP plan is about putting Yukoners first by making education accessible for everyone who lives here.”