On Feb. 12, the Ford government announced sweeping changes to OSAP (the Ontario Student Assistance Program). Initially, Ford’s Progressive Conservative government reduced tuition fees by 10 per cent for the 2019-20 academic year and kept rates frozen for seven years. Now, the same government plans to increase the share of student aid provided through loans while reducing OSAP grants, even as tuition is set to rise this September, shifting the program toward a more loan-based model. Eligible funds are now dedicating only 25 per cent to grants and a whopping 75 per cent to loans. The removal of the tuition freeze also allows colleges and universities to raise fees by up to two per cent annually.
The Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security declared the initiative a “necessary step to ensure the long-term sustainability” of institutions under financial pressure in the wake of recent international student cuts. Students are alarmed at these changes, and student unions are not shying away from expressing their outrage. As a result, the Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario (CFS–O) has begun a new campaign against the province in order to attempt to reverse the changes, calling for “Hands Off Our OSAP.” On Feb. 19, they hosted an organizing call and virtual town hall to draw attention to the matter, with attendees from across the province joining in support. During the town hall, CFS–O National Executive Representative Omar Mousa highlighted CFS–O’s three student demands: “Hands Off Our OSAP,” “Stop the Tuition Hikes,” and “Hands Off Our Campuses.”
Additionally, CFS–O member Mitra Yakubi and chairperson Cyrielle Ngeleka discussed the next steps for the campaign which is set to culminate in several rallies in March. The first rally was held on March 4 at Queen’s Park, with a second Queen’s Park rally scheduled to take place between March 23–27. Several students in the town hall voiced their concerns over the OSAP changes. In an official post on CFS–O’s Instagram page, Ngeleka also stated that the OSAP changes show “that the government is willing to open their purse-strings and fund Ontario’s post-secondary education system when they want to.” She went on to claim that the tuition fee increase and changes to OSAP allocation will lead to more debt and financial burden on students.
The Ford government has defended its position, with Premier Ford telling students not to pick “basket-weaving courses,” urging them to focus on “jobs of the future,” and emphasizing students to take courses in STEM, healthcare and education. However, cuts are the same regardless of a student’s major. The Premier reportedly received “thousands of complaints” from concerned students in the province. He also acknowledged that while students are “probably upset right now,” the cuts were justified by many students allegedly misusing OSAP funds to buy luxury items. Some slammed his comments as anti-Indigenous, with Indigenous basket-weaving artist Spencer Lunham Jr. of the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation highlighting the importance of basket-weaving for Indigenous people in a recent CBC article.
For the time being, CFS–O and students are continuing their fight by any means necessary — postering, leafleting, tabling, and engaging in other forms of outreach to raise awareness about the situation. The Ford government does not appear to be changing course, but CFS–O will continue their fight for as long as they need to, even if that means escalating their efforts until they achieve their “ultimate goal” of accessible post-secondary education for all.
For those wishing to get involved, CFS-O has posted rally information on its official Instagram account, @/cfson.
