Protect Students Already Enrolled — Resume OSAP Funding for Affected Students
To: Ontario Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security
Attention: Minister Nolan Quinn

Thousands of students attending private postsecondary institutions in Ontario made the decision to begin their education with the understanding that they were eligible to receive support through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).

Many students applied for OSAP, completed the required application process, enrolled in their programs, and began attending classes before the Ontario government announced a pause on OSAP payments associated with private postsecondary institutions.

We understand and respect the government's responsibility to investigate concerns involving the integrity of the OSAP system and to ensure that public funds are properly protected.

However, students who enrolled in good faith should not carry the financial burden of problems they did not create.

OSAP is not only used to help pay tuition. Many students rely on it for essential education and living expenses such as rent, food, transportation, books, supplies, childcare, and other basic costs while attending school.

Students made financial commitments based on the expectation that this assistance would be available. Some students reduced their work hours or left employment in order to attend school full-time. Others depend on OSAP to help cover basic monthly expenses while completing their programs.

The sudden pause has therefore created problems that go far beyond unpaid tuition.

Some students are now struggling to cover both school costs and everyday living expenses. Others may be pushed toward private loans, credit cards, lines of credit, or other forms of interest-bearing debt simply to remain enrolled and support themselves.

For some students, the financial pressure has become so serious that they are considering withdrawing from their programs entirely.

Students should not have to choose between taking on unexpected debt, being unable to afford basic living expenses, or giving up their education.

We respectfully ask the Ontario government to:
Resume OSAP funding for eligible students who enrolled and applied before the payment pause was announced.
Grandfather current students who entered their programs while their institutions were participating in OSAP and while they reasonably expected OSAP assistance to be available.
Recognize that OSAP supports both tuition and essential living expenses, and provide immediate support for students facing financial hardship during the pause.
Allow OSAP payments to resume for students attending institutions that satisfy the Ministry's requirements.
Prioritize the review of private postsecondary institutions so compliant schools and their students are not left waiting indefinitely.
Provide affected students with a clear timeline for when institutional reviews will be completed and when OSAP payments may resume.
Clearly explain what requirements each institution must meet before OSAP eligibility and payments can be restored.
Ensure that any temporary financing program does not leave students with substantially more debt or interest costs than they would have faced under OSAP.
Protect students from being placed in a worse financial position because of a government decision made after they had already committed to their education.
Students Are Not Asking the Government to Stop the Audit
Students support appropriate oversight of public funds.

This petition is not asking the Ministry to ignore concerns involving private postsecondary institutions or to stop investigating possible misuse of OSAP.

We are asking the government to separate the investigation of institutions from the financial security of students who followed the rules and enrolled in good faith.

Where an institution meets the government's requirements, its eligible students should be allowed to receive the OSAP assistance they were expecting.

Students Need Support Beyond Tuition
For many students, OSAP is what makes it possible to remain in school full-time.

Without that funding, students may struggle to pay for:

Rent and housing
Groceries and basic necessities
Transportation
Books and school supplies
Childcare
Other education-related and living expenses
A replacement loan that only addresses tuition would not solve the full problem facing students.

Any solution must recognize that students relied on OSAP not only to pay their schools, but also to remain financially stable while completing their education.

Our Request
We respectfully call on the Ontario Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security to provide a fair solution for students who were already enrolled and relying on OSAP before the payment pause.

Allow eligible current students to receive their OSAP funding, provide a clear timeline for restoring payments, and ensure students are not forced to take on additional interest-bearing debt, struggle with basic living expenses, or abandon their education because of circumstances beyond their control.

Please sign and share this petition to support Ontario students affected by the OSAP payment pause.