Petition–Ukrainian Student Domestic Tuition

April 12, 2024

My name is Yelyzaveta (Liza) Dogtieva. I am 18 years old. I am a high school graduate from Ukraine who arrived in Canada in 2022 through the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program. Despite my eagerness to continue my education, I face significant barriers including being classified as an international student. The vast majority of Ukrainians who fled the war cannot afford to pay $20,000-30,000 Canadian dollars per year for the tuition fees of their children.  
Being classified as an international student prevents me from accessing the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) too, which is crucial for many students like me who need financial aid. This program provides loans for students but I cannot access them.

Canada has always been a beacon of hope and opportunity for immigrants. We are asking for inclusivity towards educational opportunities. The current policy overlooks the difficult circumstances of Ukrainian youth arriving via CUAET and prevents us from accessing a higher education.

According to Statistics Canada, international students pay significantly higher tuition fees compared with domestic students - nearly five times more on average in undergraduate programs. It starts at $20,000 CAD and could be as high as $60,000 CAD. This financial situation can be alleviated if we are recognized as domestic students and granted access to OSAP.

We hope to get your attention and support to this matter in time to begin or resume our post-secondary education this September 2024.

By signing this petition, you're supporting the call to assist Ukrainian students who fled the war by urging provincial governments, including the Province of Ontario, to extend domestic tuition rates to Ukrainian students in Canada under the CUAET program. Let's ensure that Ukrainian students have access to post-secondary education in Canada.

Please sign this petition today!