Ontario’s budget comes out this spring, and student groups hope to cash in.
The province’s Standing Committee of Finance and Economic Affairs welcomes budget suggestions from groups and individuals until the end of the month. Both the upcoming provincial and federal budgets will face tough scrutiny under the current financial recession.
Yesterday, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance called for the McGuinty’s government to shift its focus and funds towards a knowledge-based economy.
In its report, OUSA called for up-front access grants, regulated tuition, and a rehaul of the OSAP system. It also suggested a one-time additional funding package to help universities deal with increased enrolment from recently laid off employees returning to post-secondary education.
The report continually mentions that Ontario’s government contributes less to universities than any other province. But Ontario isn’t the only government being pressured.
Last Tuesday, the Canadian Federation of Students took part in pre-budget consultation in Montreal by presenting an open letter to Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty. That same day, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations posted its own open letter with similar suggestions on its website.
Demanding a way of halting tuition increases, CFS proposed a tuition regulation system similar to the Canada Health Act with provincial and federal involvement. It also called for an increase in graduate research funding, to be issued indiscriminately as programs such as the humanities currently receive less than sciences.
The letter, which applauded the Harper government for replacing the Millennium Scholarship Foundation with a grant program and increased funding for the Canada Social Transfer, also suggested funding summer jobs to stimulate economy and a redesign of RESPs.
CASA suggested that the grants be targeted to low-income families hit by the recent financial crisis.
In a December 30 Toronto Star commentary co-written by Roger Martin, Dean of the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management at U of T, tuition freezes were strongly discouraged.
“This simply reduces the resources available to develop our future skills,” said Martin. He also proposed new efficiency systems.
“We need to find ways of getting more students in our crowded post-secondary schools. Can administrators extend classroom hours or use weekends? The province ought to consider special loans and grants for qualified high-school students to register at specific schools.”
