Free tuition for everyone — but it will cost you if you make over $100,000 per year.

The Alberta Liberals plan to eliminate post-secondary tuition by 2025 if they form government, says Leader Raj Sherman.

The Liberals would immediately slash tuition by $250 per student and begin investing a portion of resource revenues in a trust fund for post-secondary education through a "Fair Tax" — that tax would see large corporations and Albertans with incomes greater than $100,000 per year pay more in provincial income tax and it would eventually accrue enough money to cover tuition.

"Our young people see a mountain of debt due to the cost of books, room and board and tuition," Sherman said. "Thirty percent of our young people choose not to finish high school. This is absolutely tragic for the individuals, the families, the community, and for the needs of our industry."

Sherman said the average cost of living for a post-secondary student, including tuition and books, is approximately $18,000 per year.

Alberta currently has the lowest high school completion and post-secondary participation rates in Canada.

Sherman said Norway has seen success with a trust fund model similar to the proposed Fair Tax, which the country started in 1996 and has grown to $550 million.

"There is no reason, 15 years from now, with the price of oil the way it is, Albertans can't outdo that," he said.

Sherman said the Wildrose party's plan to pay 20 per cent of future budget surpluses from energy revenues directly to citizens in the form of cheques — also announced Monday — equates to buying votes.

"That is not an investment. That does not address the problems that we have in health care and education," he said.

Council of Alberta University Students Chair Zack Moline has been instrumental in getting more than 10,000 students to pledge to vote April 23 with a "Get Out and Vote" campaign.

"I know for sure that tuition and post-secondary issues are going to be a big determining factor in how we cast the ballot," Moline said.

kevin.maimann@sunmedia.ca

@SunKevinM