With election looming, Ontario Liberals distribute misleading campaign materials

TORONTO, April 11, 2014 /CNW/ -The Ontario Liberal Party is misleading Ontario voters with new pre-election flyers claiming the Liberal government has reduced tuition fees by 30 per cent. In fact, tuition fees have increased by as much as 80 per cent since the Liberals formed government.

"While the Liberal government continues to mislead the public with partisan gimmicks, Liberal tuition fee increases mean Ontario students now pay the highest fees in the country," said Alastair Woods, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. "The Liberals are being dishonest with voters about the real impacts of their government's policies: record high tuition fees and student debt."

Average undergraduate and graduate tuition fees in Ontario are the highest in the country and the Ontario government spends less per student than any other provincial government. By the end of the current tuition fee framework in 2016-17, tuition fees for some students will have doubled under the Liberals.

The Ontario Tuition Grant, which the Liberal government claims provides 30 per cent off tuition fees, is a flat rate worth 23 per cent of average undergraduate tuition fees and as little as 4 per cent of college tuition fees. Because of the program's significant restrictions, more than 75 per cent of students could not access the grant last year.

"Students and youth have been betrayed time and time again by this Liberal government," said Woods. "Once more, the Liberals are showing they are more interested in electioneering and political rhetoric than actually making post-secondary education affordable in Ontario."

The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario is the largest student organization in the province, representing more than 350,000 college, undergraduate and graduate students in all regions of the province.

SOURCE: Canadian Federation of Students - Ontario

Alastair Woods, Chairperson: 647-378-8942 (cell) or [email protected]

Kaley Kennedy, Communications and Government Relations Coordinator: 416-925-3825 (office) or [email protected]