Ontario students attending affected private career colleges are facing serious financial uncertainty after relying on OSAP funding that had already been assessed or approved before recent funding restrictions took effect. Many students made major financial and educational decisions based on their OSAP assessments. Some have already started their programs, reduced their work hours, arranged childcare, purchased textbooks and supplies, and budgeted for tuition and living expenses based on funding they reasonably expected to receive. These students should not be left in financial hardship because the rules or funding situation changed after they had already applied, been assessed or approved, and committed to their education. Alternative private loans are not an adequate solution for every student. Not everyone will qualify for additional credit, and students should not be required to take on private debt simply because previously assessed or approved government student assistance has been delayed or restricted.

We recognize that concerns involving private career colleges should be investigated and that institutions must be held accountable for meeting provincial standards. This petition is not asking Ontario to overlook misconduct, poor-quality education or institutions that fail to meet those standards. It is asking that students who acted in good faith and had already applied for, been assessed for or been approved for OSAP before these restrictions took effect are not left financially responsible for circumstances outside of their control. Institutional accountability and student protection can happen at the same time.

We are asking the Government of Ontario to:

1. Honour OSAP funding for eligible students whose applications were already assessed or approved before the new restrictions took effect.

2. Create an expedited process to review and release funding for affected students who have already begun their programs.

 3. Provide clear written communication explaining exactly how currently enrolled students will be affected and what steps they can take.

4. Ensure students are not financially penalized or forced to withdraw from their education because of a policy change or funding restriction that occurred after they made commitments based on their OSAP assessment. Students planned their education, finances and family responsibilities around funding they had been told they were eligible to receive. We are asking Ontario to provide a fair transition for students who were already in the OSAP process and to ensure that students who acted in good faith are not left without the financial support they were expecting. Please sign and share this petition to help ensure affected Ontario students are heard.

Institutional accountability and student protection can happen at the same time