Stop the Grant-to-Loan Shift: Protect Ontario’s Students
Stop the Grant-to-Loan Shift: Protect Ontario’s Students
The Issue
As a student from a less privileged background, I am deeply concerned about the recent changes to the OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program) funding system. Like many students, I rely heavily on OSAP to make ends meet while pursuing my education. My family is not wealthy, and the rising costs of essentials such as food and housing make it increasingly difficult for me to afford my education and basic living expenses.
The recent shift towards converting a greater portion of OSAP funding into loans rather than grants is exacerbating this struggle. Grants are crucial for students like me who are determined to invest in their future but are on tight budgets. If this trend continues, the dream of earning a higher education degree will become unattainable for countless students across Ontario.
Statistics show that tuition fees in Ontario are among the highest in Canada, with an average undergraduate tuition fee surpassing 8500$ annually for Canadian students. This financial burden, coupled with the transition of OSAP funding to predominantly loans, places immense pressure on students, leading to a future shackled by debt.
We are calling on the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities to revert this decision and prioritize student grants over loans. Furthermore, it is imperative to halt the continuous increase in tuition fees, which only adds to the financial strain on students.
By supporting this petition, you will help us send a strong message that education should be accessible and affordable, not a source of financial distress. Sign this petition to urge the Ontario government to take action now, ensuring that education remains a right, not a privilege driven by financial constraint.
Statistics Canada. 2025/09/10. Chart 3 - Average undergraduate tuition fees for full-time students, by province or territory, 2025/2026. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250910/cg-d003-eng.htm
THE PROBLEM
The Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and security and the Minister of Finance announced that abrupt changes are to be made to the Ontario Student Assistance Program. Thus, changing the loan minimum to 75% and the grant maximum to 25%.
BE IT RESOLVED
That the government of Ontario will return OSAP assistance to its previous 85% grants maximum and 15% loans minimum.
76
The Issue
As a student from a less privileged background, I am deeply concerned about the recent changes to the OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program) funding system. Like many students, I rely heavily on OSAP to make ends meet while pursuing my education. My family is not wealthy, and the rising costs of essentials such as food and housing make it increasingly difficult for me to afford my education and basic living expenses.
The recent shift towards converting a greater portion of OSAP funding into loans rather than grants is exacerbating this struggle. Grants are crucial for students like me who are determined to invest in their future but are on tight budgets. If this trend continues, the dream of earning a higher education degree will become unattainable for countless students across Ontario.
Statistics show that tuition fees in Ontario are among the highest in Canada, with an average undergraduate tuition fee surpassing 8500$ annually for Canadian students. This financial burden, coupled with the transition of OSAP funding to predominantly loans, places immense pressure on students, leading to a future shackled by debt.
We are calling on the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities to revert this decision and prioritize student grants over loans. Furthermore, it is imperative to halt the continuous increase in tuition fees, which only adds to the financial strain on students.
By supporting this petition, you will help us send a strong message that education should be accessible and affordable, not a source of financial distress. Sign this petition to urge the Ontario government to take action now, ensuring that education remains a right, not a privilege driven by financial constraint.
Statistics Canada. 2025/09/10. Chart 3 - Average undergraduate tuition fees for full-time students, by province or territory, 2025/2026. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/250910/cg-d003-eng.htm
THE PROBLEM
The Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and security and the Minister of Finance announced that abrupt changes are to be made to the Ontario Student Assistance Program. Thus, changing the loan minimum to 75% and the grant maximum to 25%.
BE IT RESOLVED
That the government of Ontario will return OSAP assistance to its previous 85% grants maximum and 15% loans minimum.
76
The Decision Makers
Supporter Voices
Petition created on February 17, 2026