Students remind McGuinty that students, not bankers, know what's best for students

TORONTO, Feb. 15, 2012 /CNW/ - In anticipation of the Drummond report, students call on Premier Dalton McGuinty to make smart and sustainable investments in the public sector, including reinvesting the funds committed to the Ontario Tuition Grant into an across-the-board tuition fee reduction. This morning, students submitted their recommendations to make education more affordable for all students to Dalton McGuinty and Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Glen Murray.

"Thousands of Ontarians took to the streets during the February 1 Day of Action demanding that the government reduce tuition fees," said Sandy Hudson, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. "Regardless of what Don Drummond recommends today, students know that Ontarians support lowering tuition fees and reducing student debt. It's time to stop listening to paid bank consultants and instead listen to students and Ontarians."

The document, Dropping Fees for All, is the tenth submission to the government made by the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario since the government announced its intention to re-assess tuition fees in 2008. Tuition fees have increased by up to 59 per cent since 2006 and student debt has been pushed to record levels. Students have been told by Minister Murray to expect another five per cent fee increase in fall 2012 but that discussions for 2013 should start soon.

"Don Drummond has made recommendations for post-secondary education reform in the past that students have rejected and we are critical of recommendations made by a former bank executive rather than the people who are directly affected by service cuts," said Hudson. "Premier McGuinty and Minister Murray must work with students, workers, faculty, service users and anyone who are affected by potential cuts to develop a sustainable way to evaluate spending in the public sector."

Dropping Fees for All is students' alternative to Drummond's report and can be downloaded here.

The Canadian Federation of Students unites more than 300,000 college and university undergraduate and graduate students in all regions of Ontario.

Sandy Hudson, Chairperson: 416-925-3825 or 416-722-8842 (cell) or email [email protected]
Nor Loreto, Communications and Government Relations Coordinator: 416-925-3825 or 416-846-6672 (cell) or email [email protected]