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Advanced Education Minister Marlin Schmidt has slammed the University of Alberta board of governors’ recent decision to cut four per cent of its budget and raise student residence rents.

Schmidt also took aim at president David Turpin, who takes home about $824,000annually, including salary and benefits.

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Turpin is one of the highest paid university presidents in the country, Schmidt told Postmedia on his way into a cabinet meeting Monday morning, yet has failed to examine his own compensation or deal with administrative costs.

“It’s concerning to me to see the president lining his own pockets while he’s cutting money being spent on classrooms and students,” Schmidt said.

Friday’s board vote also means another tuition hike for international students — a kick in the guts for those who have already seen their fees rise markedly since 2010.

In February, the body that represents more than 100,000 undergraduate university students in Alberta called on the province to immediately freeze international tuition. Schmidt said Monday the government will make an announcement later this year to protect international students.