The government of British Columbia delivered its 2000 budget in late March, announcing a continuation of the freeze in tuition fees and an increase of $97 million, or just over 6 per cent, for post-secondary education. Of the extra funding, about one-third will be used to create up to 5,000 new student spaces. Representatives of the post-secondary education sector, disappointed with the latest federal budget, were quick to applaud the provincial NDP for increasing its commitment to the province's universities and colleges. "We were very disappointed the federal government chose not to reinvest in education and social programs in the 2000 budget," said Maureen Shaw, president of the College Institute Educators' Association of BC. "The provincial government deserves full credit for increasing post-secondary education funding despite the lack of a federal commitment." Jim Gaskell, president of the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of BC, agreed that the budget was good news for post-secondary education and noted BC now "leads other provinces in providing high quality, affordable education."