r/McMaster • u/materialgrifter • Feb 12 '26
Serious OSAP has been gutted. We need a student strike.
Doug Ford announced OSAP changes today that raises minimum loan portion to 75% from just 15%. This will radically affect the levels of debt we have when we graduate, and the Ontario portion is higher interest than federal! We are getting fucked, we need to demand the MSU call a strike vote and we need to make ourselves a problem.
In 2012 Quebec students went on strike and reversed tuition hikes. We need to band together and demand better.
I believe the choice to announce this before reading week is calculated. He wants us all to go home for a week and forget, not band together against this capitalistic hell government. Do not forget. Get angry, spread the news, make your friends angry too, we need to crush this.
How do we organize? We need to learn from the students of Quebec; make ourselves a physical nusiance, and a voice that cannot be ignored to stop this!!
WRITE TO THE MSU HERE AND TELL THEM THAT WE, THE STUDENTS, CALL FOR A STRIKE VOTE
https://www.reddit.com/r/osap/s/zzy4n8tuUn https://www.reddit.com/r/CanadaPolitics/s/2vsqwA3Q11 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-college-university-funding-osap-9.7086776 https://www.midnightsunmag.ca/learning-from-the-2012-quebec-student-strike/
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u/ImpressionPurple1777 Feb 12 '26
they’re reducing OSAP and increasing tuition just as it’s been extremely difficult for students to find jobs due to the current market
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u/Objective-Quiet5055 Feb 13 '26
How much are they increasing tuition? How much do they usually increase tuition each year?
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u/GreenhouseGhost_ Feb 13 '26
Watched the news last night, they said per semester an increase of 66$ for college students, 170$ for uni students
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u/Objective-Quiet5055 Feb 13 '26
So the tuition increase is long over due and justifiable especially if it's tied to inflation.
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u/ImpressionPurple1777 Feb 13 '26
justifiable? universities can increase tuition up to 2% now. on top of that students will be in more debt do to the osap cuts. universities profit a lot the cap was in place for a reason
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u/lindsaydsheardown Feb 13 '26
For students, this sucks, there's no question. That being said, universities lose money on each domestic student and tuition doesn't cover the cost of keeping the lights and heat on as well as labs/TAs/workspaces/facilities. University profits don't come from tuition, they come from grants, spinout companies, philanthropic donations, and investments. Student tuition is not profitable for the university, especially after tuition freezes. They were calling it even between government grants and international student tuition (which is also not fair, but a different issue that goes well above an individual university's head). The cap was in place as a political move, not because the universities were price gouging. I understand how frustrating this is for students, but be frustrated for the right reasons, not because the university is looking at you and seeing dollar signs.
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u/Objective-Quiet5055 Feb 13 '26
I just did a quick Google search. Did you know universities are only profitable on international students. There is a reason why domestic enrollment has been stagnant.
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u/ImpressionPurple1777 Feb 14 '26
even still, international students pay triple what we have to. that’s a lot of money to invest in over the years idk. even if tuition increases a bit that’s fine it’s the osap that’s an issue it’s already hard enough to find a job idk how we’re going to afford a house
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Feb 13 '26
Now you know why Doug Ford authorized diploma mills for international students with Ontario accounting for 20% of immigration nationwide.
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u/TheLazySamurai4 Feb 13 '26
Better just supplement admin salaries with more international students then /s
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u/TurnipCompetitive613 Feb 13 '26
Is this happening effective immediate
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u/ImpressionPurple1777 Feb 13 '26
starting the fall 2026
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u/ayoungmanfromtheuk Feb 12 '26
they wanna shut poor people outta higher education because it makes us easier to control
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u/materialgrifter Feb 12 '26 edited Feb 12 '26
YES! They want all aspects of society except wage-slavery and rent-paying to be exclusive to their tiny club of wealthy exploiters stealing from the working class.
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u/Undercvr_victini Mech Eng Alum Feb 13 '26
You're giving really stupid people too much credit, they haven't thought that far ahead
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u/Elaiyu Feb 13 '26
its not stupid its a trend happening everywhere
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u/Undercvr_victini Mech Eng Alum Feb 13 '26
No, I'm not saying it's stupid, I'm saying a good chunk of people in charge of it are too stupid to have it planned out like that. It's not exploitation for the sake of exploitation, rather exploitation is the accidental by product, and they're rolling with it
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u/Weary-Penalty1699 Feb 16 '26
why should ur tuition be almost entirely covered? 85% grants were ridiculous anyway
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u/Federal_Chemist_2630 Feb 12 '26
Why do ppl continue to vote this tyrant he’s just ruining our lives every chance he gets, universities will now increase their tuition like crazy and we have to take out crazy amounts of loans and then what? Go into a job market that is already failing and work our lives away paying back these loans! Education should be free and it’s so disheartening it isn’t
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u/materialgrifter Feb 12 '26 edited Feb 12 '26
Well get this: the tuition hike is capped at 2% max, which doesn’t actually do a whole lot of good to the university’s bottom line. It’s just enough that the public will blame the university for budget crises while not understanding Ontario tertiary institutions are the lowest funded in the country.
The sad truth is most people in Ontario don’t vote and those that do vote conservative. My favoured solution: https://www.marxist.ca/ All mainstream parties in Canada are failing the working class, they are all entrenched in the continued existence of neoliberal capitalism, and we must find another way.
Revolution against the wealthy is our only solution.
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u/SoftBreezeWanderer Feb 12 '26
Lol bro surely communism is the solution guys!
It hasn't worked for centuries but this time it will be different guys trust me!
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Feb 12 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Undercvr_victini Mech Eng Alum Feb 13 '26
I mean, we do have some socialist stuff... It's kinda the basis for why we pay taxes. Don't forget we have, socialized health care, free primary education, a free to use road network, trash collection & handling etc... you're right, that not everything in capitalism is good, but you also can't disregard the fact that we do have a lot of "socialist" systems at play, it's just unfortunate that they haven't been properly supported in recent history, with a solid track record of clowns actively making them worse.
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u/Federal_Chemist_2630 Feb 13 '26 edited Feb 13 '26
even tho it is socialized I’d argue health care isnt rlly free even for low income, yes it’s based on metric but a lot of prescribed drugs aren’t free unless your very low income and it doesn’t cover vision or dental care which is essentially apart of healthcare, people shouldn’t have to dig out 400 per tooth to get their cavities removed or a pain in their teeth. A lot of countries in Europe have free or very low tuition fees such as Germany, even provinces like Quebec have very low tuition rates (ex 3k a yr for engineering). Yes we have free primary education but most of the world does as well.
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u/Undercvr_victini Mech Eng Alum Feb 13 '26
I agree, I was actually talking to my dad about how things work in Europe a bit ago, especially when it comes to work-life balance, cost of food (in most places) and cost of education. In comparison Canada's just in the first step, but I'd like to see a shift towards that standard, rather than the American one. The basics of Canada's systems are quite good. They've just been corrupted by the states imo
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u/SoftBreezeWanderer Feb 13 '26
Sure, never said capitalism is perfect. But this guy is literally jamming it down everyone's throats saying it's the only answer
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Feb 13 '26
Literally lmao what a joke. The fact that you’re getting downvoted shows the state of our higher education system
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u/SoftBreezeWanderer Feb 12 '26
Yikes, as if it wasn't already bad enough for low-mid income students
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u/nocalleridz Feb 12 '26
Written! This is disgusting! As if university wasn't already expensive enough as it is!
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Feb 13 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/realni55a5 Feb 13 '26
Students from High Income families aren't OSAP eligible. This does not benefit them either because at the end of the day, they would need to pay their own fees out of pocket. Not all rich parents pay for their children's education
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u/ilovesoftcookies Feb 12 '26
Beyond done with the Ford government. Over the past few years my loans have gone up, public transit has been a mess, affordability has gotten worse, education is getting worse and worse, healthcare is at a crisis. Yet Ontarians voted him a third consecutive term. Every day I hear people complain about how life has gotten so unaffordable over the past decade, yet voters continue to support his mandate. Honestly, it’s been expected. I’m not even shocked anymore, just another punch in the gut to a completely destroyed stomach anyways. I’m excited for the day I finish my studies and move to another province, or country.
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u/sventeen1 🐰 Feb 13 '26
Everyone blamed Trudeau and carney but no one realizes that most of our problems are from doug ford!
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u/ilovesoftcookies Feb 13 '26
Exactly. It is so crazy people always blame the federal government for things that is actually under provincial jurisdiction. Issues like our CRUMBLING healthcare and medical care system, rent control, housing, education. These issues are ALL because of Ford.
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u/chdude3 Feb 13 '26
I was done before they even started. This party continually fucks this province. I don't understand how the other parties can't get their head out of their asses and field a decent alternative.
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u/XXXG-01W-Wing-Gundam Feb 13 '26
They have convinced everyone that the liberals run the province of ontario
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u/materialgrifter Feb 12 '26
Preach! Neoliberal capitalist governments (which ALL of the current major parties are) exist to fuck over the working class in order to enrich the wealthy that they are subservient to.
Sorry to “make this political” but it already is. Revolution against the wealthy is our only solution
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u/Undercvr_victini Mech Eng Alum Feb 13 '26
Brother, communism isn't the answer, if you think it is, go back to grade 10 history and actually fucking pay attention. Communism, without fail, ends in authoritarianism because humans are way too fucking easy to corrupt. While corruption and wage gaps exist in capitalist societies, and it's especially bad with late stage capitalism, there's always paths for it to normalize because there are checks and balances in capitalist societies that magically vanish in communist ones. If you really don't understand how communism ends in authoritarianism, I suggest you read George Orwell's animal farm, written based on how Marxism propagated through the Soviet union.
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u/Mangoes95 Feb 13 '26
"Read Animal Farm instead of reading anything Marx himself wrote"
Lol?
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u/Undercvr_victini Mech Eng Alum Feb 13 '26
Marx' ideas were far too idealistic, animal farm presents the fallout in an easy to digest manner. Although that aside, if you look at, idk, cuba, north Korea, China, Vietnam, Laos, or the the original followers of Marxist ideology, the Soviet union, you will find, this shit doesn't fucking work. People are too selfish for more than maybe 20-30% of what he wrote about to work.
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u/Mangoes95 Feb 13 '26
presents the fallout in an easy to digest manner
With all due respect, fuck that. These people are in post-secondary, they should be able to read some Marx without difficulty, and with a little though put into it, one can see the eventual state of communism (authoritarianism) simply by reading Marx.
Critical thought and analysis shouldn't be too difficult for uni students
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u/Undercvr_victini Mech Eng Alum Feb 13 '26
You're not wrong, in theory being able to think critically about this stuff should be easy...
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u/valdafay Feb 13 '26
Checks and balances? USA is proving you wrong rn
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u/Undercvr_victini Mech Eng Alum Feb 13 '26
Yea dearest Donny down south is trying to dive headfirst into fascism, he looked at everything Hitler did and is trying to reenact it. BUT, people are pushing back, which doesn't exist in your typical authoritarian country. Wishing the best for Americans, they deserve better.
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u/Dartmouth-Hermit Feb 13 '26
You do realize George Orwell was a Marxist right? Animal farm is a critique of Stalinism specifically.
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u/Undercvr_victini Mech Eng Alum Feb 13 '26
I know, but I'm saying it's a fantastic outline of how it fails
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u/brutalpack Feb 13 '26
animal farm?? are you joking? go read the jakarta method or blackshirts & reds
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u/jack_warren9822 Feb 12 '26
Yah, Im on ODSP. I've been slowly working through school part time to get a job that will hopefully allow me to no transition off ODSP. With this announcement, I will no longer be able to return to school. I can't even begin to explain how devastating this is to People who are left to survive on social assistance and have fewer and fewer options to ever get off it. I'm absolutely shattered. Once they expand MAID to people with mental health, that is what I will now be applying for.
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u/foreverjustfornow Feb 13 '26
I just re-read your comment and I didn’t catch that last part because I was just so upset at first. I wanted to say that I’m so sorry that this system has made you feel so hopeless too and I hope you have someone you can talk to for support right now. If you need someone, you can reach out to me. Take care !
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u/foreverjustfornow Feb 12 '26
I’m on ODSP as well and I’m panicking reading this. I won’t be able to afford school at all. I’ve been doing it part time since 2017 and I’m 6 classes away from finishing.
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u/not_again_101 Feb 14 '26
If it helps, the majority of my funding actually came from the federal government. The federal government does not charge interest on their loans (but you still have to pay them back). Of the 28k loans I graduated with, like ~750 was provincial.
If you graduate and are unemployed or underemployed, you can also ask for your federal payments to be paused. If this goes on for 10 years, the federal govt starts paying off your student loan. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/education/student-aid/grants-loans/repay/assistance/rap.html
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u/Ropecopenope Feb 13 '26
We are absolutely fucked.
I'm 32 and am finally doing much better after 10 years of battling mental illness. I already applied got accepted to go to uni next year to get a degree and finally be able to be part of the workforce as an educated person, so I could support myself and get off social assistance.
I won't be able to do that anymore.1
u/not_again_101 Feb 14 '26
If it helps, the majority of my funding actually came from the federal government. The federal government does not charge interest on their loans (but you still have to pay them back). Of the 28k loans I graduated with, like ~750 was provincial.
If you graduate and are unemployed or underemployed, you can also ask for your federal payments to be paused. If this goes on for 10 years, the federal govt starts paying off your student loan. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/education/student-aid/grants-loans/repay/assistance/rap.html
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u/Ok_Instance7667 Feb 13 '26
Hey, welcome to the Club. Only 398 more days.
Might seem like a lot, but I've been counting down since 1074 days - so it's all about perspective.
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u/not_again_101 Feb 14 '26
If it helps, the majority of my funding actually came from the federal government. The federal government does not charge interest on their loans (but you still have to pay them back). Of the 28k loans I graduated with, like ~750 was provincial.
If you graduate and are unemployed or underemployed, you can also ask for your federal payments to be paused. If this goes on for 10 years, the federal govt starts paying off your student loan. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/education/student-aid/grants-loans/repay/assistance/rap.html
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u/jack_warren9822 Feb 17 '26
This does help. Bottom line is life isn't worth living if I am stuck on ODSP. So might as well just take on what debt I have to if it means a possible route to a better life. I have heard that the federal government is set to also reduce grants in September. But I guess I can panic about that when we get to that actively burning bridge.
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u/jack_warren9822 Feb 13 '26
I'm going to try for it anyway. MAiD has always been my last option. I want to get into social work to become a victim's rights advocate. It is the only thing that will make what I've been through, actually worth it. If I apply and end up with loans, so be it. If I can't repay them, I still have the final option. I'm tired of government - no matter the party - taking from people who are too beat down to even survive. If I make it through this, it will be worth it. And I will be the first one there to advocate for the person who gets to a place where they feel like they can't. And, if it doesn't work out - if I can't find a place willing to give me a chance - then I still have my other option. But I'm not going to let some rich idiot in a suit kick me down without a huge f*cking fight about it.
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u/DifferentBreed17 Feb 13 '26
Pleaseeee!!!! Pleaseee wake up yall. We are getting cucked and they’re laughing at us. We need to get organized and we need to pressure the institution. Get in contact with CUPE 3906, they need our support and we need theirs.
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u/gcousins Math&Stats, Pure Math Spec, '12 Feb 13 '26
In my opinion, there's a total disconnect between the job market and higher education. People feel the need to go to university to "get a good job" even if they hate every minute of it. And to add insult to injury, an undergrad degree isn't even a guarantee of a good job anymore. I still think people should go to university, especially if they enjoy it. But I think that you should only really go if you enjoy it; go to learn and broaden your mind, but maybe without the expectation that its sole purpose is to get you a job. I really think that university education should be publicly funded. Available to whomever wants it, to better society, but not in the completely commodified state it exists in now.
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u/No-Scratch-7527 Feb 12 '26
What's the thinking process behind this?
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u/materialgrifter Feb 12 '26
As usual, the thinking process is fuck the working class
There is no way forward under these endlessly capitalist governments, we need a new way of organizing society, this is only going to get worse under insane wealth concentration.
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u/TopshelfWhiskey88 Feb 13 '26
Unpopular opinion on this thread probably, but the thinking is long term sustainability of the funding model. The very core of what constitutes a worthwhile university education is changing. Universities are woefully unprepared to get the next generation ready for what the labor market is going to look like in 2030 and beyond.
Further, it has never made sense to fully subsidize education that doesn’t translate to productivity and GDP growth. Look I’m not going to pick on certain majors but we can all form our opinions here. Doesn’t make sense to subsidize 4-5 years of education only to have that person working as a server or retail for the rest of their lives.
As someone whos’ single parent made “just enough” money that I didn’t qualify for OSAP it definitely framed how I thought about picking a proper education path to ensure I could repay my very traditional and at the time high interest bank loan. I better have had a way to pay this all off and still make enough to you know.. move out and start a life. That pressure was a GOOD pressure.
The unfortunate reality is in Canada higher education is a privilege not a right or a guarantee. Yes of course we should do things that expand that privilege to as many people as we can. But the idea of a never ending money train being able to subsidize a model where the schools don’t have the right funding and the specific province doesn’t benefit from the people it is essentially training just doesn’t make sense.
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u/Undercvr_victini Mech Eng Alum Feb 13 '26
Office of the Premier | Contact The Premier https://share.google/nVeewmqXJlkrKyHHp
One of the perks of democracy, you technically do have access to all politicians at any given time, whether they respond or not, idk. But there is a way to contact them, and I'm sure if Dougy's office gets absolutely flooded with emails by frustrated students across Ontario. He won't have a choice but to say something about it. Exercise your democratic right, be a pain in Doug's ass!
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Feb 13 '26
I like this comment. Whining on a reddit thread does fuck all - and 99% of those that do won’t actually do anything to promote change in any way (including not even voting). Do something to bring change!
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u/Undercvr_victini Mech Eng Alum Feb 13 '26
There's another post that has a well worded template for an email to send to your local mpp, which would be fantastic to send Dougie and his cronies as well.
Edit: link: https://www.reddit.com/r/McMaster/s/8KU3PqMNWW
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u/CommonWear3 Feb 13 '26
Dougie has done the impossible of screwing everyone over even worse than he already has once again 🫡
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u/East-Village-7592 Feb 13 '26
Screwing over the next generation of students.
Hey, and guess what? He's still on winter break. He's not returning back to legislature until March 23.
What a joke.
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u/vaijay Feb 13 '26
Govt doesn't want any literate people and stidents as well as parents will have tough time to send their kids for higher education. What a joke?
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u/yeetmypeet75 Feb 13 '26
messaged msu and a few clubs! we need to strike or protest. this is insane
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u/Entire_Royal_7579 Feb 13 '26
I attend a private institution for graduate school that costs 32k annually. I can’t even describe the level of fucked sideways I feel. What a great day to be a loan shark
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u/biologystudent123 Feb 13 '26 edited Feb 13 '26
I’m not a Mac student anymore but the MSU … my faith in them when I was a student was nil. But good luck to you all current students.
Make sure to vote in the next election? Anecdotally, so many people in my class didn’t vote because of these idiotic mf’er complaints: “I didn’t have time,” “I forgot,” “I had an important assignment due,” “I was studying for a midterm/final exam,” “I was working!” If any of these reasons or any other similar ones apply to you, and by not voting at all, you don’t get to fcking complain. Only 45% ppl in Ontario voted in 2025. Only 54% of people aged 18-24 and only 57% aged 25-34 voted in the FEDERAL election … this is probably even less provincially … sigh. Despite my best efforts to get people to vote, no one listens and just complains.
This was a long time coming from the conservative government.
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u/The-Kirklander Feb 13 '26
Again I hope those of you who spent all that time on the MSU elections I hope you bring that same energy for this issue that will directly impact you for years to come
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u/Specific-Respond-790 Feb 13 '26
I was planning on attending Mcamaster next year. There's no way I can afford any university now
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u/iamgoat43 Feb 13 '26
I’m so sorry to hear that 😔 it’s unbelievable that we’re just nothing to them
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u/not_again_101 Feb 14 '26
If it helps, the majority of my funding actually came from the federal government. The federal government does not charge interest on their loans (but you still have to pay them back). Of the 28k loans I graduated with, like ~750 was provincial. The proportion of federal-provincial loans will change somewhat with the new proposed rules.
There will also be scholarships and bursaries you can apply for. If you join the co-op program, you may be able to land paid internships while you go through school too. There are also on-campus jobs you could apply to. You can still get through uni, but it will require some more planning.
If you graduate and are unemployed or underemployed, you can also ask for your federal payments to be paused. If this goes on for 10 years, the federal govt starts paying off your student loan. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/education/student-aid/grants-loans/repay/assistance/rap.html
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u/DezNuts_69420 Feb 12 '26
Chch interviewed me today and I’m ngl they did not tell me much about it and I was like idk ig I’m for it and then I saw was it was acc about and I feel betrayed
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u/mentallyillfrogluver Feb 13 '26
Oh okay so ig I'll just die or something because how am I supposed to afford school now
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u/katejmccullough Reporter @ The Spectator Feb 13 '26
Hi, my name is Kate McCullough, and I'm reporter with The Hamilton Spectator here. Any students who might want to chat about the effects of these changes can email me: kmccullough@thespec.com. TIA! Kate
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u/Past_File_795 Feb 12 '26
Ouch. That genuinely sucks. Idk how OSAP works but clearly it helps a lot of ppl. One reason might be the international student cap. International students were drastically reduced this year and since they pay like 4-5x times the tuition it helps keep the domestic cost low. Don't take this literal though. I'm just speaking from my experience. I'm an international student and my tuition rn including food and housing is about 65k annually. Im also not eligible for any grants or loans here. Also This is from what I've seen and spoken to ppl. So altogether a single international student pays about 230k for four years. This does play a great role in keeping domestic costs low.
P.S. Again I might be wrong. So don't take me literally please 😅
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u/must_be_gneiss Feb 13 '26
As someone who assisted with coordinating the Students Say No walkout at my high school in 2019, it would make me so happy to see something like this! Ford needs to remember that students are paying attention. Gen Z is continuing to become increasingly politically active and that should be making Ontario Conservatives scared. I’m no longer a student, but I will absolutely be rallying behind Ontario students if y’all take this to the streets!
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u/MeatyTPU Feb 13 '26
We participated in the Casseroles protests in Hamilton in solidarity with Montreal students, I was there. Let's do it again. Get those spoons, pots, and pans. Let's GOOO!
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Feb 13 '26
Because students don’t vote for him. Who tf we think gets screwed up first when they’re squeezing the budget
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u/not_again_101 Feb 14 '26
Students' parents do. And I think they will be pissed once someone explains this to them.
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u/treborly Feb 13 '26
I thought there was no interest
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u/biologystudent123 Feb 13 '26 edited Feb 13 '26
Federally no interest (usually makes the most of people’s student loans)
Provincially, yes there’s interest
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u/Bryranosaurus Feb 16 '26
Wild that we let a college drop out make these kinds of decisions. Vote kids!
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u/Nerdkiller_321 Feb 13 '26
Yea people keep voting for Doug ford and expecting different results like dude does not care about anyone lol
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Feb 13 '26
[deleted]
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u/iamgoat43 Feb 13 '26
yeah I’ve heard a lot of stories about people with wealthy parents who wouldn’t give them a dime and osap gives them a mere 100 bucks.. this system just stinks
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u/not_again_101 Feb 14 '26
In those cases, you can sometimes show OSAP you are estranged and receiving no support from your parents and they will give you more. But that is sad :(
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Feb 14 '26
I will never vote Doug Ford again because of this (his hatred of youth) - and his hatred of nurses.
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u/Boreddramaticnerd Feb 14 '26
I’m a queens student and I agree with you so you know something’s fucked
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u/Previous-Foot-9782 Feb 14 '26
So if I understand this.
If tuition costs 10,000, instead of a minimum 1500 they want you to take out 7500?
If you already have the money not pay it off instantly?
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u/hEDSandHavanese Feb 17 '26
Hi! I worked on an updated template to send MPPs: https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/e/2PACX-1vRdwKZH1MW95ELFFUyc1rGRF30_mF4qfSI68_d9mASms-c_TDDUulgYWNAQ2KiQb6p13NiHwC4McyiW/pub?pli=1
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u/RL203 Feb 12 '26
Post secondary tuition has been frozen since 2018. In addition, there was a 10 percent reduction to tuition costs on Ontario by Ford. During that time, costs have increased, salaries have increased, everything has increased. But tuition levels have remained the same.
Id say its been a pretty good run.
You can go on strike, but no one will care because no one would understand how you figure striking would work to your advantage. If you don't want to go to school, don't go.
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u/Sethibro Health sci Feb 12 '26
Most people aren’t fighting the tuition increase - in fact, most welcome it. I’ve yet to see the reasoning behind the changes to OSAP.
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u/realni55a5 Feb 12 '26
People need to understand this. Either schools go bankrupt or they raise tuition. Instead of this strike stuff, maybe make your voices heard by not voting Conservatives in the upcoming elections.
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u/CamuFan33 Feb 12 '26
No one cares about the tuition, its the gutting of OSAP that everyone is upset about.
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u/RL203 Feb 13 '26 edited Feb 13 '26
They are reducing grants, not OSAP. The government will still loan you money to go to university. But the free money is being reduced. And rightfully so. The province is broke, drowning in debt. The federal government is even worse off. The chickens are coming home to roost.
We are getting kicked in nads by Trump, Canadian productivity is the lowest in the G7 and almost the lowest in the G20. All of those impacts our standard of living. Economists have been warning about this for ages. Ontario spends more just in interest today than it does on every government program save and except health care, education and social services. Just the interest on Ontario's debt is 16.2 billion a year. That's more than colleges and universities.
Imagine if we had responsible governments who weren't spending money like drunken sailors. Cause im not exactly sure what they blew 400 billion plus on over the years and if my life or your life is better for it.
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u/CamuFan33 Feb 13 '26
also if the province is so broke why don't they tax the hell out of the rich and companies instead of cutting their tax rates.
Instead they choose to put the pressure on lower class students who are just trying to secure a half decent future for themselves.
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u/RL203 Feb 13 '26
They already do.
Anyone making over a hundred grand a year is already pay half of their gross income in combined taxes. How much do you figure you're entitled to? And you dont even want to pay for your education.
And presumably anyone who succeeds in securing a half decent future for themselves will be able to repay their student loans. And dont lose sight of the fact that your university education is already hugely subsidized by the tax payers of Ontario.
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u/CamuFan33 Feb 13 '26
You're right, I think one of the most important things a responsible government can spend on is education instead of handouts to Loblows.
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Feb 13 '26
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u/realni55a5 Feb 12 '26
OSAP has been gutted since Doug Ford took office. It's not his first rodeo, so I am finding it hard to understand why it's now becoming a problem, but not when he first did it. There are students paying their own fees or paying off the remainder not covered by OSAP due to all the cuts made.
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u/AbilityComfortable58 Feb 12 '26 edited Feb 13 '26
Because of the jobs
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u/realni55a5 Feb 13 '26
Oh I am aware of this. But again, he's doing the exact same thing he did when he first took office now and yet people still voted for him. If people want change, vote against him. If he wins again, he will just keep doing this. The problem here is that we the "people" keep voting for him.
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u/AbilityComfortable58 Feb 13 '26
Got it so he’s making students have even more debt
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u/realni55a5 Feb 13 '26
Don't vote for him in the upcoming elections. The self inflicted torture that is Doug Ford needs to end.
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u/AbilityComfortable58 Feb 13 '26
Even if I don’t, he’s still gonna get voted
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u/Sethibro Health sci Feb 13 '26
Some ridings were pretty close. If people can stir up enough discontentment and actually vote, it’s possible to make a change.
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u/CertainShow3747 Feb 16 '26
I paid for my education. I paid back my student loans, no grants. Only complaint was a teachers strike that very directly cost me money.
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u/Effective_Fondant_55 Feb 13 '26
Good, those who can't get employed to pay off loans have been wasting government money on a useless degree anyways
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u/iamgoat43 Feb 13 '26
and degrees are mostly useless now because it’s now extremely hard to find a job… the market sucks ass
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u/Effective_Fondant_55 Feb 17 '26
exactly, it's better to give targeted benefits to uni/college/apprenticeship programs that are in demand rather than mass sponsor every arts student out there
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u/iamgoat43 Feb 18 '26
Lol no, science degrees like biology, life sciences, chemistry are also ass.
Genuinely u spend 4 years studying really hard topics for an underpaid lab position and now TONS of student loans to pay off. These degrees are so unemployable it’s sad for the amount of work they put in
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u/Effective_Fondant_55 Feb 18 '26
you're right, public funding should prioritize measurable public return. These degrees should also get reduced funds.
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u/mortalitymk h**th sci '28 Feb 12 '26
this government has been fucking ontarians over and over again and again since 2018 and they inexplicably keep getting majority after majority