Students deliver holiday gift to McGuinty: more than 40,000 petitions demanding a real tuition fee reduction
Students delivered more than 40,000 petitions in gift-wrapped boxes to Dalton McGuinty this morning. The petitions demand that the money dedicated for the tuition fee grant be directly applied to all students' tuition fees. This would equal a 13% reduction in fees for all Ontario college and university students. (CNW Group/Canadian Federation of Students)
TORONTO, Dec. 5, 2011 /CNW/ - Students from across Ontario delivered a holiday gift to Dalton McGuinty this morning. More than 40,000 petition signatures were delivered to Queen's Park to reallocate the $430 million committed to the Liberal tuition grant to a real tuition fee reduction for all students.
"In just one month, more than 40,000 students have clearly stated that they want the Liberal's tuition grant promise to be turned into a tuition fee reduction for all," said Krisna Saravanamuttu, Ontario Representative of the Canadian Federation of Students. "Dalton McGuinty was elected by promising to reduce tuition fees, and students are calling for him to keep his promise and turn this grant into an across-the-board fee reduction."
The Liberal Party's promise of an up-front grant for college and university students excludes a majority of students and will not prevent tuition fees from rising next fall. Students in second-entry programs, students who fall from good standing, students whose parents earn over $160,000 annually, graduate students and students who are older than 21 will receive no relief.
"Students are pleased to see the investment by this government to address the high cost of college and university, but this tuition grant does not stop fees from going up, and the majority of students will not receive it," said Sandy Hudson, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. "This holiday, students want a real tuition fee reduction, for all students."
The Canadian Federation of Students represent more than 300,000 college, undergraduate and graduate students from Windsor to Thunder Bay.
Image with caption: "Students delivered more than 40,000 petitions in gift-wrapped boxes to Dalton McGuinty this morning. The petitions demand that the money dedicated for the tuition fee grant be directly applied to all students' tuition fees. This would equal a 13% reduction in fees for all Ontario college and university students. (CNW Group/Canadian Federation of Students)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20111205_C3874_PHOTO_EN_7843.jpg
For further information: Sandy Hudson, Ontario Chairperson: 416-722-8842 (mobile)
Krisna Saravanamuttu, Ontario Representative: 647-448-0576 (mobile)