“Students are counting on the funding they were promised”: Young Liberal President Ian Hall
October 25, 2018 – The Ontario Young Liberals (OYL) are outraged after news the Ford Government is considering cutting Ontario’s free post-secondary tuition program. Tens of thousands of students have relied on free tuition since the program launched, leaving the future of their education in question.
“Students are counting on the funding they were promised to complete their education,” said OYL president Ian Hall. “To take that away after the fact demonstrates a lack of compassion and total disregard for young people across the province.”
Ontario’s former Liberal government brought in the free tuition program in 2017 with enthusiastic support from the OYL.
“Students across Ontario, regardless of their political views, should stand shoulder to shoulder against this cut,” said Hall. “Between the tremendous concern this is causing students and the impact from repealed labour laws, this government has made it evident that youth issues are not their issues.”
The news the Ford government is considering cutting free tuition came hours after they pulled funding from three new university campuses in Brampton, Markham, and Milton.
The current program provides funding to students based on income levels, ensuring every Ontarian is afforded the opportunity to receive an education. Anything less than a full renewal of the existing plan would risk trapping people in poverty, leaving them no easy path to join the middle class.