Media Advisory - Students across Ontario prepare for federal election Day of Action

TORONTO, Oct. 6, 2015 /CNW/ - Students across Ontario will be hosting events and actions on their campuses as part of a province-wide Day of Action to promote student issues in the federal election and encourage youth and students to cast their ballot on October 19 or in advanced polls.

This week, some schools are host to special on-campus polling as part of a pilot project from Elections Canada that will allow students to vote for their primary riding, even if it is off-campus. Students have been calling on all parties, leaders and candidates to make commitments on important youth and student issues such as tuition fees, youth unemployment, unpaid internships and student debt, among other issues.

		FEDERAL ELECTION DAY OF ACTION:
		DATE:		Wednesday, October 7, 2015
		TIME:		All day
		PLACE:		College and university campuses across Ontario
		WHO:		Ontario's college, undergraduate and graduate students

JUST THE FACTS:

• The total outstanding student debt owed to the federal government currently stands at $17 billion.
• The average student debt in Canada stands at $28,700 upon the completion of a four-year degree.
• In the summer of 2014, it was calculated that Canada's youth un-/underemployment rate was 27.7%, which includes students seeking full time hours, those engaged in unpaid internships and others who had simply given up looking for work.
• Between 2001 and 2011, it is estimated that about 18,500 Aboriginal students were denied funding to attend post-secondary education because of the 2% cap on the Post-Secondary Student Support Program.

The Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario unites more than 350,000 college and university students in all regions of the province.

SOURCE Canadian Federation of Students

Rajean Hoilett, Chairperson, 289-923-3534 (cellphone) or [email protected]; Gabrielle Ross-Marquette (francophone), National Executive Representative, 647-918-9864 (cellphone) or [email protected]; Alastair Woods, Government & Media Relations Coordinator, 647-378-8942 (cellphone) or [email protected]