Ontario students disappointed with provincial governemnt

By Joanna Becket

Ontario’s students say they are disappointed over the government’s decision to extend the current tuition framework over the next academic year.

University and college students will be required to pay an average of five per cent more in tuition fees next September, as the provincial cap on tuition fees has been extended until fall 2013.

The current tuition framework has been in place since 2006 and has permitted an average increase of five per cent in each of the last two years. The policy was set to expire this month.

The province will continue to provide a 30 per cent rebate on tuition for college and university students for qualifying students.

The decision was announced in a statement released on March 8, by Glen Murray, minister of training, colleges and universities.

“This means that the average tuition will increase by five per cent this fall for the seventh year in a row, leaving Ontario with the highest fees and lowest per-student funding in the country yet again,” stated a press release issued March 8 by the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance.

“Increasing tuition fees at well above the rate of inflation is not a sustainable future for Ontario’s students and families,” said Sean Madden, OUSA president, in the release. “We will continue to work with the government toward the creation of a fair, long-term tuition framework and an enhanced financial aid system.”

“We’re disappointed and concerned about it for lots of reasons,” said Sam Andrey, OUSA executive director, in an interview.

“Our organization’s vision has been that tuition should not make up more than one third of the cost of your education.  So, one third of the operating budget should be contributed to by students. Now it’s about 50 per cent, which we think is too much. We would have preferred a much lower cap if any increase at all.

“So even just from a fairness perspective and worrying about the erosion of public education, what does it say about public education when the majority of the costs are born by private dollars, student dollars?” said Andrey.

Other student groups also raised concerns.

“I’m really frustrated that this government continues to try to tout itself as the education government or McGinty as the education premier, when all they’re doing is increasing tuition fees, saddling students with debt, and making sure that more students can’t attend their secondary education,” said Sandy Hudson, Ontario chairperson, of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario, in an interview.

“Since this government’s been in power since 2006 when they first allowed tuition fees to increase, tuition fees have increased 71 per cent on the high end. It’s unbelievable,” said Hudson.

“Across the board – colleges, universities, graduate students – everyone is paying the highest in Ontario.”

This announcement comes just weeks after students rallied outside Queen’s Park to protest the McGinty government’s new 30 per cent tuition rebate that promises $1,600 per year to university students already carrying a government student loan, and $730 per year to students in college diploma and certificate programs.

The grant excludes mature students, part-time students and students whose family income exceeds $160,000. The protesters, organized by the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario, were demanding that the rebate be applied to all students.

In his report released in February, economist Don Drummond recommended that if the government cannot operate within his recommended 1.5 per cent increase in government funding for post-secondary education until 2017-18, they should scrap the new 30 per cent tuition rebate program.

He also recommended that the tuition grant be targeted to low-income students.

“The McGinty government is extending for one year a cap of five per cent on overall tuition fee increases at its colleges and universities. No changes are being contemplated that would require all universities to set standard tuition fees for arts and science programs. However, the province will continue to provide a 30 per cent rebate on tuition for college and university students for many families.

“Families know that investing in postsecondary education is the key to a successful workforce and a vibrant economy, and the McGuinty government believes in supporting families. Ontario continues to have one of the most generous student aid packages in the country. It’s our plan to eliminate the deficit while protecting education.”

This announcement comes just weeks after students rallied outside Queen’s Park to protest the McGinty government’s new 30 per cent tuition rebate that promises $1600 per year to university students already carrying a government student loan, and $730 per year to students in college diploma and certificate programs.

The grant excludes mature students, part-time students and students whose family income exceeds $160,000. The protesters, organized by the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario, were demanding that the rebate be applied to all students.

In his report released in February, economist Don Drummond recommended that if the government cannot operate within his recommended 1.5 per cent increase in government funding for post-secondary education until 2017-18, they should scrap the new 30 per cent tuition rebate program.

He also recommended that the tuition grant be targeted to low-income students.

This story has been revised since its original posting.