Students demand real investment in post secondary education at opening of Advanced Research Complex

OTTAWA, Sept. 30, 2014 /CNW/ - Students unveiled a banner calling for lower tuition fees this morning and demanded that the Ontario government invest in post-secondary education during a visit from Minister Reza Moridi at the University of Ottawa to mark the official opening of the University's new Advanced Research Complex.

"Research that benefits the public requires public funding," stated Chris Hynes, Vice President, University Affairs of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa. "The reality is that our institutions have seen nothing but cuts, and tuition fees have increased by over 70 per cent since the Liberals broke their promise and lifted the tuition freeze in 2006."

With tuition fees in Ontario remaining the highest in the country, students are demanding that the province defy their conventional approach and prioritize access to post-secondary education. Lack of proper funding and skyrocketing tuition fees represent unjust barriers to students.

"The province is increasingly privatizing our public institutions by forcing students to carry the burden of the costs of operating our schools," said Nicole Desnoyers, Vice President, Services and Communications of the Student Federation. "We need the government to take real action and invest meaningfully in post-secondary education, instead of leaving students with only lip service, broken promises and ballooning student debt".

The Student Federation of the University of Ottawa represents 35,000 full and part time undergraduate students at the University of Ottawa.

SOURCE: Student Federation of the University of Ottawa

Chris Hynes
Vice President, University Affairs
Student Federation of the University of Ottawa
613-875-0978

Nicole Desnoyers
Vice President, Services and Communications
Student Federation of the University of Ottawa
613-805-0807