WATERLOO — Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau received roaring applause at a packed house at Wilfrid Laurier University when he said a Liberal government will increase student grants to $3,000 a year for low and middle-income families.

Part-time students will see an extra $1,800 a year in student grants. Trudeau also said graduating students won't have to make payments on their loans until they earn an annual income of at least $25,000.

"Too often the cost of a post-secondary education saddles too many young Canadians with large debts," he said.

It's increasingly difficult for parents to save for their children's education, Trudeau said.

"The federal government spends billions every year on non-refundable tax credits that don't offer direct help for students when they need it," he said.

Trudeau also said $50 million in additional funding will be earmarked to help indigenous students get a higher education.

"Making post-secondary education affordable is one part of our platform," he said.

Trudeau chose Laurier on Monday to distribute a full platform on what Liberals will do if elected Oct. 19.

"It's great to be back here at Wilfrid Laurier — as you know, named for my second favourite prime minister," he said to laughs from the audience, alluding that his favourite was his father, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau.

The platform — A New Plan for a Strong Middle Class — will have Liberals go into debt to stimulate the economy.

"It's a platform that reasserts the vision that made Canada successful for so long. It made us the envy of the world," he said.

"It's about you. It's about making sure you have more opportunities to succeed. When our middle class has more money in their pockets to save, invest and grow in the economy, we all benefit," he said.

"Stephen Harper gave up on helping the middle class a long time ago. He and his friends are worried about their own jobs, not yours," he said.

Trudeau said Liberals will raise taxes on the wealthiest one per cent and lower the taxes for the middle class.

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The Canada Child Tax Benefit will be increased for low-income and middle class families, he promised.

The eligibility age will drop from 67 back to 65 for both the Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement. The most vulnerable, single seniors, will receive an extra $920 a year, he said.