Doug Ford is said to be “for the students”, but, many students do not agree.
Protester at Victoria Park
Students have been protesting across Ontario to fight back against the proposed changes in the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
Students such as Nicole Savoie, a graduate from Western, believes that Ford does not have students interest in mind.
“I don’t feel like Doug Ford is giving students the rights and everything we deserve.”
Protesters at Victoria Park
The Ontario government announced last week that the interest free 6 month grace period would be slashed and there would be a 10 per cent reduction in tuition fees.
” I would think not cutting the grace period and the 10% that he is going to cut off tuition is kind of a joke.”
The changes would not only affect students currently in students, but also students who were thinking of pursuing more education.
“I had plans and dreams of going back to school and this is kind of really in the way of doing that. I was thinking about doing some kind of social work or something in that field, but I mean, it’s hard to think about what to do when OSAP might not even be an option for me”, says Savoie.
At the protest at Victoria Park, Terence Kernaghan, MPP for London North Centre, instructed protesters to go as far as calling Ford from his personal phone number to directly voice their displeasure.
Protesters at Victoria Park
In March of 2018, Ford came to Western and promised students that he was going to “reduce costs for people going to university.” Currently, there is a Change.Org petition with over 200,00 signatures called “Stop Doug Ford Cuts to OSAP”, which highlights the inequality that Ford’s cuts would make.
“Ontario’s PC government has eliminated free-tuition for low-income families; making it more difficult to qualify for OSAP and terminating the much needed 6-month interest-free grace period after graduating. This will not only hurt Ontario’s students but, the Universities and colleges. Sign this petition to help stop this.”
A province wide march for student’s rights, is set for February 4th.
