SIGN THE LETTER HERE: https://forms.gle/Cd5K4YbiTmXaLEwp9
When the changes were announced in January, OUSA asked students to use the #ONStudentsSpeak hashtag to share how they were affected by changes to OSAP, the tuition framework, and the non-tuition ancillary fee framework (Student Choice Initiative). OUSA received over 200 responses from students across the province, who shared personal stories about how these changes would affect them. Faced with cuts to their OSAP funding, many students had similar concerns, including not being able to support themselves, being forced to take on additional jobs, and having less time to study. These responses are summarized in OUSA’s OSAP campaign video, “#ONStudentsSpeak on OSAP Cuts”.
OUSA has also sent a public letter to the Minister calling on the provincial government to reverse the changes to OSAP. This letter highlights students’ concerns and stories and asks for the provincial government to engage in meaningful consultation with students to create an OSAP framework that allows all willing and qualified students to access post-secondary education. This letter was used as a template for our letter writing campaign, which gives students who sign the opportunity to add their own stories.
OUSA's letter writing campaign is in response to the provincial government’s recent changes to OSAP. Letters with students’ stories will be addressed to Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, Ross Romano, and students’ local MPPs, and the goal of the campaign is to give students disadvantaged by these changes the opportunity to share their experiences with the provincial government. OUSA hopes to make it impossible for provincial leaders to ignore the effects that the OSAP changes are having on students.
The letter highlights the key changes impacting students, stating that students are concerned about these changes. It also summarizes the stories shared using the #ONStudentsSpeak hashtag and those OUSA has heard directly from students. Any student who signs the letter is also given space to share their own story if they wish to do so. The letter concludes by asking for the changes to be reversed and for meaningful consultation with students to create an OSAP framework that allows all willing and qualified students to access post-secondary education.
This is an opportunity for students to make their voice heard. Sign OUSA’s letter.