By: Matt Weinagrden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
Students at Belle River District High School staged a passionate protest earlier this month, voicing their frustration and fear over the Ford government’s recent cuts to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). The demonstration saw dozens of students walk out of class, holding signs and chanting in opposition to changes that will reduce grant funding and increase reliance on student loans.
The Ford government announced it is revamping OSAP, slashing the amount of non-repayable grants available and shifting more support into loans. While officials say the changes are necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of the program, students at Belle River and across the province worry the move will saddle them with even more debt and limit their options for post-secondary education.
“This is upsetting news…I was really relying on that funding to assist me in my post-secondary education,” said Joshua Lewis, a Grade 12 student at Belle River. “Some of us are from families that don’t have a lot of money and could really use the assistance.”
Lewis believes that the protest was necessary to send a clear message to the government that this is unacceptable.
“We mean business, as this issue isn’t going to go away. We need to let them know how we feel about these changes,” he explained.
Students gathered at the front of the school and marched their way into town, stopping briefly at Town Hall to make their point known.
Onya Sampson, who plans to attend a post-secondary engineering program out of town next year, is incensed by Doug Ford’s telling students that they should not pick ‘basket-weaving courses,’ but instead invest in education that leads to in-demand jobs.
“This is going to put so many of us further into debt,” she added. “Some of my friends are even rethinking whether they can afford to go to school at all.”
Lewis and Sampson say that ultimately, they would like to see the cuts reversed.
“In fact, in an ideal world, I would like to see fully paid post-secondary education, like so many other countries, including Sweden and Norway,” added Lewis, who is looking at a career in engineering too.
Education advocates and student groups have echoed these concerns. The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario called the changes a “step backwards for access to education,” estimating that thousands of students from low- and middle-income families will see their grant funding reduced or eliminated.
The provincial government, meanwhile, argues that OSAP’s costs have become unsustainable and that reforms are needed to keep the program viable for future generations.
Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop said, “We need to make sure OSAP is there for future generations. These changes will ensure the program remains viable and focused on those who need it most.”
But for students at Belle River District High School, the impact feels immediate and personal. With tuition fees still high and job prospects uncertain, many worry that increased debt could close doors to higher education.
As the debate continues, Belle River students say they will keep making their voices heard, fighting for a system that supports their ambitions rather than piling on financial obstacles.