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FREDERICTON - The Liberal government's plan for reforming post-secondary education includes little to ease sky-high tuition costs and ballooning debt, say New Brunswick student leaders.

The government's long-delayed plan was finally unveiled Thursday, but its focus on student finances is mainly contained to a number of previously announced programs, scholarships and rebates.

The province's finance minister, however, says additional relief will come - but only if Ottawa coughs up new funding.

Duncan Gallant, president of the New Brunswick Student Alliance, said the plan contains positive elements, but lacks "radical reform."

He said the measures presented are simply temporary patches, not long-term solutions.

For example, he was looking for a cap on student debt, as was recommended last year by the Liberal-appointed commission on post-secondary education.

"There is no long-term plan for affordability of post-secondary education in this report," he said.

The report's fiscal measures are already well known: a tuition freeze for the upcoming school year, a tuition rebate program for graduates living in the province, a $2,000 scholarship for first-year students, and changes that make New Brunswick student loans available to everyone - regardless of parental or spousal incomes.

The plan also highlights the Futures to Discover program, which funds 1,000 students a year. The program, now focused on under-represented groups - like Aboriginals and low-income earners - provides $2,500 a year for four years.

As well, the government pledged to offer first and second-year university courses at community colleges by 2011.

The idea is to have students study in their home town for up to two years, thus saving money on living and travel expenses.

But Jon O'Kane, a member of the University of New Brunswick student union in Fredericton, would have liked to see more.

He said government should make student loan payments contingent on the income of graduates.

For example, graduates would only be made to put 20 per cent of their income into repaying their debt.

"Essentially student financial aid has not changed," O'Kane said.

Finance Minister Victor Boudreau said more student aid could arrive, depending on upcoming negotiations with the federal government.

At issue is the Canadian Millennium Scholarship program. Created 10 years ago, it is set to expire in the fall of 2009. According to Boudreau, the fund benefited 2,600 students in the province - to the tune of $7 million.

That loss of funding will have a negative impact, he said.

Boudreau vowed to press the federal government for equivalent funding once the program dries up. He is slated to meet soon with his federal counterpart, Jim Flaherty.

"We recognize the need to do more to help students and families in reducing the financial barriers to post-secondary education," said the Shediac-area MLA.

"This government must be particularly attentive to the most vulnerable students among us."

Jody Carr, the Conservative MLA from Oromocto, was not impressed.

"I see recycled promises. I see nothing new for student aid, no significant money for student debt relief or affordability. That's very alarming," he said.

"And all that the government could do today is blame the federal government."

Premier Shawn Graham said there was a "very strong possibility" that the upcoming tuition freeze could be extended another year.

But he ruled out a possible debt cap, saying no other province offers such relief.

UNB president John McLaughlin said "significant" financial investments will be needed to fully address student debt.

"We're a long ways away from having the real funding levels that we're going to need," he said.

"So let's get on with it."