LONDON —Terence Kernaghan, MPP for London North Centre, says cuts to OSAP grants alongside new tuition increases will make it increasingly difficult for students already in school, already in debt, as well as those planning to attend post-secondary, to afford to complete their education.
“Students in my riding are telling me they are terrified about what these OSAP cuts mean for them right now,” said Kernaghan. “Students at Western, Huron, and King’s made financial plans and were counting on receiving these grants. Now they are being told those grants will be replaced with loans, and that means graduating with far more debt than they planned for.
“This is not a small change. Moving from mostly grants to mostly loans fundamentally changes what it costs to get an education in Ontario. For many low- and middle-income students, this is the difference between finishing their degree and dropping out. Many talented young people won’t achieve their dreams because of Doug Ford’s cuts in Ontario.
“Students are already working part-time, taking on debt, and trying to manage the cost of living. Adding higher tuition on top of bigger OSAP loans is an unfair double hit. Cutting OSAP isn’t just trimming a budget line—it's narrowing the doorway to opportunity for students in London and across Ontario.
“The government keeps calling this an historic investment in post-secondary, but students are being asked to carry more of the cost themselves,” said Kernaghan. “If this is stabilization, it shouldn’t come at the expense of students who are already stretched to their limit.”