Dear Students, Families and Concerned Ontario Citizens, 
 
The Ministry of Colleges and Universities in a few short weeks will begin funding for eligible students, with The Learn and Stay Grant.  The Ontario Learn and Stay Grant provides funding for students studying in priority programs, in priority communities in Ontario. This program requires you to learn and work in the region where you study, it responds to labour market needs, in health care, and it helps communities get the workers they need for in-demand professions. The grant provides free tuition and also covers compulsory fees, books, and other educational costs.   

This grant program is grossly unfair as one of the eligibility criteria is that the student must “successfully apply to and enroll in the first year of an eligible program in a priority community”.  This criterion excludes all students who are entering their second, third, or fourth year post-secondary education in priority programs.  

Ontario students who graduated secondary school in 2020, 2021, and 2022 have already faced many difficult obstacles during their last years of secondary school due to the pandemic (ie: school closures, online classes, lack of laboratory work, etc...).  Yet, despite all those obstacles, and through pure grit, determination and hard work, those students successfully earned entrance into their chosen medical programs.  No easy feat, even under normal circumstances.  2nd, 3rd, and 4th year students enrolled in eligible programs have shown their ability to fulfill their program's academic commitment, which is another added benefit to including these students.  2nd, 3rd, and 4th year students do not deserve denial of The Learn and Stay Grant in 2023; they are just as deserving as the first-year students of 2023. 

By opening the grant to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year students the province of Ontario will reap the benefits of the grant program sooner.  The Ontario Health Care system, which is already strained and understaffed, would significantly improve in regions that are currently struggling, and the benefits of the Learn and Stay Grant would be seen in 1 years' time as opposed to the 2 to 4 year timeline under the current grant eligibility criteria. 

We need this grant opportunity made available for ALL students who are enrolled in priority programs, in priority regions, regardless of which program year they are attending.  
 
Have your voice heard now by signing this petition and sharing the link with others and on your social media.