Stiles to bring OSAP cuts to vote if Ford won’t reverse decision

More post-secondary students are expressing their opposition to the Ford government’s changes to Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) funding.

Ford announced three weeks ago that OSAP will mainly be turned into a loan program from grants.

Ontario opposition leader Marit Stiles was at McMaster University Thursday speaking with students.

The students say the cost of living is expensive along with tuition, so any changes to OSAP will impact them.

Mohawk College student Desiree Heneberry says she works three jobs just to get by, and says it’s still not enough.

“Unfortunately with all of those combined, it’s not enough to pay for everything I need to, because on top of tuition I’ve got living expenses, there are textbooks, there’s emergency funds,” said Heneberry. “At 22 years old I’m in a lot of debt already and I can’t afford to go anywhere.”

The Ford government announced three weeks ago a change to OSAP, changing the funding formula from 85 per cent grants and 15 per cent loans, to 25 per cent grants and 75 per cent loans.

WATCH MORE: McMaster students rally in protest of Ford’s unpopular OSAP changes

Heneberry says the change is forcing her to alter her education plans.

“With OSAP being cut and everything kind of switching, I could not afford to graduate or continue on in the arts and sciences, which is originally what I wanted to do,” said Heneberry. “So I’ve had to switch gears into something I could afford and unfortunately, that was continuing education.”

Stiles was at McMaster University Thursday, speaking with both university and college students.

“What we are going to do, going back to the legislature on March 23, is if Doug Ford doesn’t have the guts to turn around on this decision, we are going to bring it to a vote immediately,” said Stiles. “When the legislature comes back, we are going to force a vote on the reversal of the OSAP cuts.”

Stiles says the OSAP changes will impact career paths including high need areas like nursing.

“Every single program is going to be impacted by this,” said Stiles. “You know, Doug Ford has this crazy idea that everybody is graduating into a job in this province. Well look at our youth unemployment numbers — there are no jobs out there right now.”

WATCH MORE: Students rally in St. Catharines, at Queen’s Park protesting Ford’s OSAP changes

The Ford government told CHCH News that the OSAP framework was no longer sustainable and it wants to ensure its availability for future generations.

It also said the government is spending an additional $6.4 billion in funding for the postsecondary sector and are negotiating an enhanced Student Access Guarantee (SAG) which they say will provide additional supports for low-income students.

But these students say it’s not enough.

“Many of my friends have tens of thousands of dollars in student debt already and they still have years of education ahead of them, so that number is only going to increase,” said Caleb Smolenaars.

Stiles says this will be brought up when the government returns on March 23, after a 14 week winter break.

She says Ford can expect to hear from the opposition and more students then.

READ MORE: Students protest cuts to OSAP grants; arrests made during rally at Queen’s Park