Students still reeling from McGuinty's legacy of tuition fee increases

TORONTO, Oct. 31, 2013 /CNW/ - Students are disappointed to hear that former premier Dalton McGuinty is being recognized for his contributions to Ontario's post-secondary education sector. The Council of Ontario Universities awarded the David C. Smith Award to McGuinty yesterday.

"The McGuinty government's policies on post-secondary education are nothing to be celebrated," said Alastair Woods, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. "For students, McGuinty's legacy has been year after year tuition fee increases, leaving students in Ontario paying the highest tuition fees in Canada."

Under the McGuinty government, tuition fees increased as much as 71 per cent. Between 2005 and 2012, student debt owed to the Ontario government more than doubled from $1.15 billion to $2.64 billion.

In the last election, the Liberals, led by McGuinty, promised to reduce tuition fees by 30 per cent. Instead, the Liberal government introduced a restrictive grant program that only two in nine students qualified for this past year. In McGuinty's final budget, the Liberals also cut about $100 million dollars from student financial assistance.

"Instead of commending these concerning policies, the Council of Ontario Universities should join students' in our call to reduce tuition fees," said Woods.

The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario represents more than 300,000 college, undergraduate and graduate students in all regions of the province.

SOURCE: Canadian Federation of Students - Ontario

Kaley Kennedy, Communications Coordinator: 647-302-3891 (cell) or
[email protected]