Ontario budget leaves students trapped between high tuition fees and larger debt loads

TORONTO, April 23, 2015 /CNW/ – Ontario’s 2015 Budget is another missed opportunity to address the chronic underfunding of post-secondary education that has made Ontario the most expensive province in which to attend college or university. Despite some changes to student financial assistance, the budget contains no new funding to address the affordability crisis at Ontario post-secondary institutions.

“For years, students have been sounding the alarm that Ontario’s system of post-secondary education is unaffordable and inaccessible,” said Alastair Woods, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. “We have proposed thoughtful and practical solutions to address high tuition fees and increasing student debt levels, yet the government responds with empty rhetoric and recycled promises.”

This year, students recommended reducing tuition fees to 2005 levels, a 50 per cent reduction in graduate student tuition fees during the research and thesis-writing portion of a graduate degree, re-integrating international students into public health insurance and specifically earmarking funds to prevent, mitigate and address sexual violence on college and university campuses. Additionally, students proposed cost saving and revenue generation options to pay for our priorities.