30% Off Ontario Tuition
Posted Jan 5, 2012 03:41:51 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Premier Dalton McGuinty was at Wilfrid Laurier University today, officially launching the Liberal governments new 30% off Ontario Tuition grants for College and University students.
McGuinty says the foundation of Ontario’s strength is the skills and educational levels of the people, “so not with-standing these difficult, challenging economic times, we have found from within, the additional $423 million dollars, I believe it is, on an annual basis to support this new initiative.”
The programs that will be cancelled to make up for this one are the Queen Elizabeth II Aiming for the Top Scholarships, the Ontario Trust for Student Support and the Ontario Textbook and Technology Grant.
The grant is based on 30% of the average Ontario tuition, which amounts to $1, 600 for University students and $730 for students in College diploma and certificate programs in the first full year of grants, which starts next school year. Students in school currently can get half of the grant, prorated for the second semester, worth $800 for University students and $365 for College students.
For more information, visit the Government of Ontario website that has been set up specifically for this grant here.
For his part, MPP for Cambridge and Ontario PC critic for Training, Colleges and Universities is against the plan, “I don’t think we can afford this tuition cut. I think at this point in time, we have a $16 billion deficit, we need to fix that problem before we start creating these new ideas of where we’re going to spend money.”
Federation of Students at the University of Waterloo have a mixed message, Vice – President Education, Natalie Cockburn saying in a statement that they are, “thrilled to see such a significant investment in this area,” but at the same time, “disappointed to see that the program is being funded in part through the cancellation of other programs that offset student support in other areas.”
Students around the University Avenue had a number of opinions, some completely thrilled like Wilfrid Laurier student, Richard. He said “I’ll definitely apply, and they (the Liberals) will get my vote,” stipulating as long as the grants don’t end up costing tax payers extra down the road.
International student, Cameron, who is studying at University of Waterloo, thinks the program is unfair. He doesn’t qualify, because he is not an Ontario resident, “international students have to pay way more than local students and especially so now, that they are getting 30% off.”
Balsillie School of International Affairs student, Bilal, says he probably wont apply, because his education is nearly complete. Regardless, he sees the benefits to the program, “it takes a bit of a burden off many students and allows them to essentially have more funds available to them for other uses. Also, it keeps them away from debt.”
Check out a video of part of the news conference with McGuinty, officially launching the program, at WLU.
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Mike McCulloch – 570 News
