Linyin Chen (11) – STAFF REPORTER
On January 17, 2019, Doug Ford’s government announced the cuts that will be made to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), inciting concern and controversy for many who fear the damaging effect the decision may have on low-income and struggling students.
The Ontario government declared these cuts on the basis that OSAP had been draining a generous portion of funds allocated towards the department, as Ontario’s Auditor General reports that costs associated with the OSAP grant program had risen by 25%.
Thus, the Ontario government, in order to minimize the spendings of an “unsustainable program”, made various changes including the following most contested: reducing the family income threshold required in order to access OSAP assistance, increasing the amount of Student Loans over grants by changing the grant-to-loan ratio to a minimum of 50% loan, and charging interest during the six-month grace period on OSAP loans post-graduation.
Contrarily, the government has announced a 10% decrease in tuition rates “for all students at every publicly-funded college and university in Ontario”, seeing as Ontario’s tuition rates are the highest in Canada. The loss must be paid for by the schools, which will total to about $360 million for universities and $80 million for colleges, as stated by the Toronto Star. International students are ineligible for this 10% deduction. In addition to this loss, it was also announced that universities and colleges will have to give students the choice of what additional fees they pay.
Many opposing this plan are appalled to hear that Minister Fullerton had not consulted any students’ unions, province-wide student organizations or colleges and universities prior to drafting the concept. This is made even more unbelievable when taking into account the vast number of Ontarians that will be affected by the change, as well as the impact this may have on the future of students. Many students may be left without an adequate means of payment for their tuition or their loans, while schools must absorb losses that have been created by the arrangement.
Meanwhile, students and staff across Ontario have been protesting the changes, hoping for a better future and more openness and freedom when it comes to matters of education.
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Sources:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-tuition-cut-reaction-1.4982620
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2019/01/16/ford-governments-tuition-cut-to-cost-universities-360-million-and-colleges-80-million.html
https://www.macleans.ca/education/to-doug-ford-being-for-the-students-means-reckless-osap-cuts/
