Government Submissions

Good afternoon PA Cho, Minister Yurek and Mr. Blodgett,

My name is Julia Pereira, President of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA). This afternoon, I will be speaking on behalf of the 150,000 undergraduate and professional students we represent across eight universities in Ontario. I will use these 3 minutes to share OUSA’s three recommendations to provide immediate relief for students and to highlight the challenges students are currently facing.

Students across the province face significant financial barriers to accessing post-secondary education. The COVID-19 Pandemic has only exacerbated these barriers and increased student concerns about the affordability of post-secondary education.

OUSA continues to advocate for improvements to the Student Access Guarantee (SAG) program and OSAP to address the gaps that make post-secondary education unaffordable for students. 

On July 29, 2020, OUSA participated in “The Future of Learning and Prosperity,” a consultation with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to discuss the re-opening of campuses. 

June 19^th, 2020

The Honourable Ross Romano

Minister of Colleges and Universities

Ministry of Colleges and Universities

5^th Floor, 438 University Ave

Toronto, ON M7A 1N3

Cc:Deputy Minister Laurie LeBlanc 

Re: OSAP Estimator Concerns & OSAP Recommendations

Dear Minister Romano,

On behalf of 150,000 professional and undergraduate students in Ontario, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) is writing to express concerns regarding the status of the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) for the 2020-21 school year. 

As we enter the last week of June, students are making important decisions about their post-secondary education, including whether they can afford to return to school in the Fall. Unfortunately, because the OSAP assessment tool has not been finalized, students are unable to use the OSAP estimator to determine their funding eligibility. This prevents students from planning their finances effectively and making arrangements for the coming year.

In this report, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, the College Student Alliance, the Council of Ontario Universities, and Colleges Ontario make joint recommendations to the provincial government aimed at improving student mental health in postsecondary communities across the province. Highlighting the need for a 'whole-of-community' approach, life-long mental health care, and increased service provision, this report builds on the 2017 report In It Together: Taking Action on Student Mental Health.

Recent changes in post-secondary have left students feeling uncertain about their futures and worried about completing their studies. This submission responds to these changes by highlighting the need for investment in student financial aid, mental health care, sexual violence prevention, and experiential learning opportunities. Increased support in these areas will help ensure that all willing and qualified students are able to pursue a post-secondary education in Ontario.

This submission highlights the need for the next provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy to address the impact poverty has on access to, and success in, post-secondary education. It calls on the provincial government to make investments in student financial aid, work-integrated learning opportunities, and supports and services so all students have the opportunity to thrive.

On behalf of the College Student Alliance, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, Colleges Ontario and the Council of Ontario Universities, a joint pre-budget submission for Budget 2018 concerning the mental health of our students.

This submission highlights the need for further investment in open educational resources, experiential learning, and university funding to maintain and improve the affordability and quality of a university education in the province.