Hundreds of post-secondary students gathered at Queen’s Park on Wednesday to protest changes to financial aid that will significantly reduce grants under the Ontario Student Assistance Program.
The demonstration followed an announcement by Nolan Quinn that the provincial government plans to restructure OSAP funding while increasing overall support for post-secondary institutions.
Under the new policy, the proportion of OSAP funding provided as grants will drop dramatically. Currently, about 85 per cent of OSAP support comes as grants and 15 per cent as loans, but starting this fall, students will receive a maximum of 25 per cent of their funding as grants, with the remainder provided as repayable loans.
Students Warn of Rising Debt
Student leaders say the changes will place an even heavier financial burden on young people already struggling with the rising cost of living.
Canadian Federation of Students Ontario chairperson Cyrielle Ngeleka said many students are already struggling to balance rent, food and education costs.
“Rent is skyrocketing, groceries are becoming unaffordable, and students are working more hours just to stay enrolled,” she said.
“In a moment like this, the last thing students need is for the cost of education itself to rise.”
Some students fear the changes could leave them graduating with tens of thousands of dollars in debt.
Adam Picardo, a student in the urban and regional planning program at Toronto Metropolitan University, said the new system could dramatically increase his financial burden.
“My degree shouldn’t come with a mortgage,” he said while holding a protest sign.
Picardo said he already struggles to cover basic expenses.
“Some days I’m skipping meals,” he said, adding he worries about graduating with $50,000 to $60,000 in debt.
Protest Leads to Arrests
The protest grew tense at times as demonstrators confronted police officers and legislative security outside the provincial legislature.
Toronto Police Service confirmed that several arrests were made, though officials did not immediately release details.
A statue of George Brown outside the legislature was also defaced with slogans criticizing Premier Doug Ford.
Despite the tense moments, most protesters eventually dispersed without further confrontation.
Government Defends Funding Changes
The Ontario government says the changes are part of a broader effort to stabilize post-secondary funding.
Officials say they are making an additional $6.4 billion investment in the sector while lifting a seven-year tuition freeze.
Government spokesperson Bianca Giacoboni said the province’s Student Access Guarantee will continue to help low-income students cover tuition, books and mandatory fees.
“If OSAP funding does not cover these costs, the institution provides additional support,” she said in a statement.
The government also argues that OSAP spending had become unsustainable. Provincial data shows grant spending alone reached $1.7 billion last year, representing a 143 per cent increase since 2020.
Students Fear Education Becoming Unaffordable
For many students at the rally, however, the policy change signals a troubling shift toward greater reliance on debt.
First-year journalism student Bethany Campbell said she might have to move from part-time to full-time work just to keep studying.
“If my OSAP becomes mostly loans, I’ll be taking on almost $80,000 just to finish my four-year program,” she said.
Campbell said students from low-income families are particularly vulnerable.
“If I don’t work full-time while studying, I’m either going to be in debt for the rest of my life or I’m going to have to drop out of school.”