OSAP changes are a resounding success
On Tuesday, Sept. 12, Minister Deb Matthews visited campus for a roundtable discussion with undergraduate and graduate students. MPP Matthews, who is the minister of advanced education and skills development, as well as the deputy premier, spoke to students about the new Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), and encouraged them to share their personal experiences with the program.Students at the table expressed gratitude for the amount of funding they were receiving to help pay for their postsecondary education, citing recent changes to OSAP.Last year, the Liberal government undertook an overhaul of the OSAP program, eliminating tax credits in lieu of upfront grants. However, some participants shared that many of their fellow students were unaware of how those changes could affect them and proposed more advertising for the program.
Overall, the consensus among students and staff alike appeared to be that the changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program were a resounding success. “50,000 more people applied for OSAP this year over last year,” said Minister Matthews. “[The government] is ecstatic about what the response has been to OSAP in the first year.”According to University of Guelph registrar Ray Darling, U of G has seen an 11 per cent increase in OSAP applications this year, “while maintaining virtually the same enrollment.”
Before wrapping up the discussion, Minister Matthews expanded on the government’s commitment to affordable postsecondary education, showcasing the eCampus Ontario open textbook library and more flexible repayment programs.
Photo by Mido Melebari.