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I fear it is.The heavy emphasis on IF is nerve wracking for students. Using the rising cost of living as a justification for tuition hikes shifts focus away from the root issue: the need for sustainable and publicly funded education models.We need to focus on challenging insufficient govt investment

I don’t agree with many of Ford’s policies that have resulted in the degradation of universities. However, I think we need to protect students and their access to education during these increasingly challenging times, rather than creating financial barriers.

Sure, university education is not a universal service, but it is increasingly becoming more necessary for students to obtain a university degree in order to enter the job market and find full-time permanent employment.

Half of Canadian students may not have debt but the other half that do have an average of $28,000 to pay off. Majority of them being women. This is the tip of the iceberg when examining socio-economic components of student debt. Why create more barriers?

The responsibility of ensuring sustainable funding for universities should not be placed on students. We should avoid falling into the elitist barriers present in academia and find new pathways for securing the future of post-secondary education.

The last thing we need in Canada is for our students to be burdened with lifelong student debt, like Americans. Young people in Canada are already struggling to afford homes, and adding substantial student loans further reduces their chances of achieving financial independence after graduation.

Additionally, eligibility criteria may not accurately reflect economic realities – income thresholds may be set too low, and grant amounts are often based on outdated cost of living estimates, failing to meet students’ actual needs in today's economy.

Relying on grants to safeguard students who can’t afford to pay tuition is unsustainable. Grants are precarious and volatile, making them an unstable financial safety net.

Thanks for bringing attention to this! I have been increasingly concerned about the provincial funding cuts, but I am less informed about tuition freezes. Are you suggesting that students should pay more in tuition during a housing crisis? I’m not sure if putting students in more debt is a solution.