UWSA Statement of Support for Ontario Students

UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (UWSA) SUPPORTS ONTARIO STUDENTS’ RESISTANCE TO CHANGES TO THEIR STUDENT AID AND FUNDING.

WINNIPEG, January 25, 2019 – On January 17, the Ontario Provincial Government announced cuts to post-secondary funding and their students’ right to representation under the pretence of a 10 per cent decrease in tuition fees.

UWSA Vice President External Affairs, Zee Morales says,” This is another barrier that will make it difficult for marginalized students in Ontario to access post-secondary education and will inevitably perpetuate a cycle of poverty.”

Under this plan, funding is limited to students with a family income of $140,000 and below – a decrease from the previous threshold of $170,000. This gives an advantage to one-child families and places a greater emphasis on the family’s income and contribution, regardless of the students’ actual dependency on their families.

Ontario students are also encouraged to opt-out of fees that aren’t considered “essential” like student union fees which provides necessary services like foodbanks, health plan, transit passes, service centres and academic advocacy.

Student unions provide these services to make education accessible to all, especially those who most need it. Unions operate democratically and as student union members, students have the opportunity to engage with their union and vote on fee changes for services.

UWSA Vice-President Student Affairs, Jade DeFehr says,” Student unions will not be able to do the work we do without the support and solidarity from the collective student body.”

This plan also eliminates the six-month grace period after graduation that students previously received to help replay their student loans, forcing students deeper in debt because of high interest rates. Morales urges students in Ontario to continue showing their resistance and hold the Ontario Provincial government accountable.

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About UWSA

Established in 1972, the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association (UWSA) democratically unites the students of the University of Winnipeg in order to advance student interests. As well as promoting communication within the University, the UWSA advocates on behalf of students to administrative bodies.

For further information, contact:
Shreya Jhunjhunwala
Communications Manager
The University of Winnipeg Students’ Association
0R30 – 515 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg MB R3B 2E9
(204) 786-9867