Rally at Bonavista CNA campus to protest budget cuts

More than 100 people gathered outside the College of the North Atlantic campus in Bonavista on Saturday, the latest in a string of anti-budget protests to happen across Newfoundland and Labrador in the last several days.

Local citizens organized the rally, with support from the Canadian Federation of Students, in hopes of expressing the region's fear that the CNA campus in Bonavista could see drastic cuts or be closed all together.

Travis Perry, chairperson of the provincial CFS branch, was at the rally to show solidarity with local CNA students.

"They've been hearing rumours about their campus being on the chopping block, so we thought it was important to come out and support the folks who were organizing the rally and show that students are behind them," he told CBC News.

"Many folks today were talking about what a closure of CNA would mean for Bonavista and for the future of the young people that want to stay and study here."

Perry said closing small town campus's also is counter to promises the governing Liberals made while campaigning last fall.

"The Liberals are often talking about the importance of diversifying our economy," he said. "But how can you do that if you don't invest in places of education where people can go and get the skills they need, especially in a difficult economic time?"

Bonavista Mayor Betty Fitzgerald also spoke to those at the rally on Saturday, telling them "the college is our future. We will never see this college close as long as I'm here."

Rally organizer Neil Fleming told the crowd to contact their MHAs and send a clear message that the public won't stand by as educational facilities like the CNA campus are shut down.

"Enough has been taken. We are not standing for it," he said. "The MHAs work for us."