Students from across Ontario present MPPs with plan to reduce tuition fees

TORONTO, March 18, 2013 /CNW/ - Students from across Ontario are at Queen's Park this week to present to Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) students' vision for improving access to and quality of college and university education in the province. Students are providing recommendations for a new tuition fee framework in Ontario, which is expected from government in the coming weeks.

"With tuition fees in Ontario the highest in the country and student debt hitting record levels, the new tuition fee framework must provide immediate relief from high tuition fees," said Sarah Jayne King, Chairperson for the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. "MPPs from all corners of the province need to make students and youth a priority by reducing tuition fees."

Since 2006, tuition fees have increased by as much as 71 per cent. Students and graduates in Ontario now owe the federal and provincial governments over $9 billion in student loans. Per-student funding for post-secondary education in Ontario is lower than any other province in Canada.

A full list and costing of students' recommendations can be found in the document, Changing Priorities: Moving Towards Affordable Post-Secondary Education. Students are calling for additional funding for post-secondary education to reduce tuition fees by 30 per cent over three years. Students are also recommending the province invest in making graduate education more affordable, put an end to unfair institutional tuition fee policies and enforce more strict compliance measures for ancillary fees.

"With students from every region of the province descending on Queen's Park this week, MPPs will have the opportunity to hear from those who are impacted most by high tuition fees and underfunding of colleges and universities," said King.

Students will be meeting MPPs from every party and from all regions of the province, including the Minister of Training Colleges and Universities Brad DuGuid and Deputy Premier Deb Matthews, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and PC Critic for Training, Colleges and Universities Rob Leone.

The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario represents more than 300,000 college, undergraduate and graduate students from Windsor to Thunder Bay.

SOURCE: Canadian Federation of Students

Caitlin Smith, Campaigns Coordinator, 647-637-5317 (mobile)
Sarah Jayne King, Ontario Chairperson, 647-339-4070 (mobile)