Ontario's record in high tuition fees is a national embarrassment

TORONTO, Sept. 16 /CNW/ - For the second year in a row, Ontario students are paying the highest tuition fees in Canada to get a post-secondary education.  The annual tuition fee report released by Statistics Canada today shows that undergraduate students pay an average of $6,307. Statistics Canada reports that graduate fees have increased by 10 percent, and that undergraduate fees have risen by 5.4 percent. Both increases appear to be higher than the maximum allowable fee increase percentage set out by the Ontario government's tuition fee policy.

"While students in Ontario pay the most, they experience the largest classes and are funded at the lowest per capita levels in Canada," Sandy Hudson, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. "Having this record is embarrassing and Premier Dalton McGuinty must address these ballooning costs if Ontario's reputation for offering affordable and quality education is going to be salvaged."

This year fees have increased on average by $342 for undergraduate students. This has created a gap of $1,083 from the median tuition fees in Canada and $3,683 from the lowest province Newfoundland. In March the Government of Ontario extended the existing tuition fee policy prohibiting institutions from increasing fees beyond five percent.

"Students shouldn't be punished for choosing to study in Ontario and that is exactly what this government's funding model is accomplishing," said Ontario National Executive Representative Hamid Osman. "In the current economic climate, Ontarians need their government to create the opportunities that will provide a brighter future for this province."

This week, a report from the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) warned that Canadians' borrowing is going to have a negative impact on the economy and housing market.  As governments have allowed tuition fees to rise, students owe $15 billion to the federal government in student loans and more than $2 billion more to the Ontario government. New student loans policy announced this year Ontario announced by Minister John Milloy will allow students to accrue up to $29,200 in student debt over a four-year study period.

The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario unites more than 300,000 college and university undergraduate and graduate students studying at public post-secondary institutions across the province.

For further information:

Sandy Hudson, Ontario Chairperson: 416-925-3825 or 416-722-8842 (cell)
Joel Duff, Organiser: 416-925-3825 or 416-707-0349 (cell)