Student Mourn the Death of Affordable Education

OTTAWA , Oct. 29 /CNW Telbec/ - Students from Carleton University and the University of Ottawa will be attending a theatrical funeral for the death of post-secondary education today at the Human Rights Monument. Students will meet at 12:00 pm for a funeral procession and eulogy at the Human Rights Monument, the site of Ottawa's student rally to drop fees next week.

"The passing of affordable, high quality post-secondary education is a tragic loss for students and their families," said Erik Halliwell , mourner and President of the Carleton University Students' Association. "But with crushing student debts and mounting tuition fees - it really didn't stand a chance."

While affordable post-secondary education has been ailing under the McGuinty government, all-time high student unemployment rates and crushing student debts were ultimately determined to be the cause of death. Statistics Canada recently ranked Ontario as the province with the highest undergraduate and graduate tuition fees with students paying an average of $5,951 and $8,642 per year respectively. Nation-wide, public student debt has reached more than thirteen billion dollars.

"We can only hope that affordable education has the strength to rise from the grave with the help of an injection of public funding," added Seamus Wolfe, President of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa , "If one does not arrive before November 5th however - we promise we will return to this site."

The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario is the province's largest student advocacy organisation, representing more than 300,000 college and university students in all regions of Ontario. On November 5, 2009 , students from across Ontario will rally in protest of high fees and the government's inaction in addressing poverty and providing opportunities to the province's youth.

For further information: Erik Halliwell, President, Carleton University Students' Association, Office [phone] Ext. 1607, Cellular [phone]; Seamus Wolfe, President, Student Federation of the University of Ottawa, Office - [phone] Ext. 4061, Cellular [phone]; French Media Inquiries: Roxanne Dubois, Vice President Finance, Student Federation of the University of Ottawa, Cellular [phone]