The Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) recognizes the Government of Ontario’s stated commitment to strengthening the postsecondary sector through its recent announcement of $6.4 billion in new funding and a long-term sustainability framework. Supporting Ontario’s colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes is essential to ensuring students can access high-quality education and contribute meaningfully to the province’s economic future.
At the same time, we have significant concerns regarding the restructuring of the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), particularly the shift to a maximum of 25 per cent grants and a minimum of 75 per cent loans beginning in Fall 2026.
While institutional sustainability is important, student sustainability must remain central to Ontario’s education strategy.
Students are already navigating rising housing costs, food prices, and broader cost-of-living pressures. For many, OSAP is not simply a supplement — it is the difference between being able to attend school or not. Increasing reliance on loans will raise long-term debt exposure and may intensify financial stress, particularly for low- and middle-income students.
The province has emphasized that tuition increases will remain capped at up to two per cent annually, and that low-income students will be supported through an enhanced Student Access Guarantee. We welcome any measures that protect accessibility. However, affordability is experienced cumulatively. Tuition adjustments, increased loan reliance, and rising living costs combine to shape the real financial picture facing students.
Across Ontario, student associations and campus services are reporting growing concerns about food insecurity and financial strain. When students are worried about rent or groceries, their ability to fully focus on academic success is compromised. Financial stress is not only an affordability issue — it is closely linked to mental health, academic persistence, and long-term success.
We believe that ensuring long-term sustainability for Ontario’s postsecondary system must include protecting the students within that system. A strong workforce begins with students who can access and complete their education without facing overwhelming financial barriers.
As implementation of these changes moves forward, we encourage the province to:
We remain committed to working collaboratively with government and institutional partners to ensure Ontario’s postsecondary reforms strengthen both institutional stability and student accessibility.
Ontario’s future depends not only on investing in systems, but on sustaining the students who power those systems.
Additional statements:
“Over the past year, we have been advocating for an increase in operational funding. We welcome these investments, and we are hopeful that this investment will lead to meaningful improvements - particularly in supporting on-campus services and strengthening academic access, both of which have been urgently needed.
However, just as institutional sustainability is important, student sustainability must remain at the core of Ontario’s education strategy. We see every day that Fanshawe students are working exceptionally hard to fund their education – often juggling multiple jobs while managing demanding academic schedules, co-op placements, and volunteer commitments. We see students sacrificing sleep, mental health, social connection, and in many cases, their financial stability just to keep up with rising costs. Many are stretching their budgets to the limit, taking on debt, or choosing between essentials like food, transportation, and textbooks in order to stay enrolled. We are concerned about the restructuring of the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), especially given how many Fanshawe students rely on this to afford their education. We will continue to advocate for these students, understanding Fanshawe students are the future of Ontario, and they deserve a post-secondary system where financial barriers do not stand in the way of their success.”
– Heather Vance, FSU Sr. Advocacy & Governance Coordinator
