Students Go Back to School, React to McGuinty’s Tuition Grant

Not everyone is as optimistic towards the grant's true worth.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty’s new tuition grant program went into effect in the New Year, and is still garnering polar reactions from students and school officials.

Depending who you talk to, the new grant is either a godsend or a wasteful broken promise.

“Targeted grants that reduce students’ up-front costs have been a top priority for OUSA in its work with the government, and we are extremely pleased to see the government come through with the one of the largest investments in grants in the province’s history,” said Sean Madden, President of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA).

Elsewhere, Linda Franklin, President and CEO of Colleges Ontario also praised the grant and said, “We are particularly pleased that the government responded to our call for college and university degree programs to be treated equally in the tuition rebate program.”

However, not everyone is as optimistic towards the grant’s true worth.

“Despite Dalton McGuinty’s repeated promise to reduce tuition fees, his government is introducing a grant that will reach just over 300,000 of Ontario’s more than 900,000 students,” said Sandy Hudson, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario.

Hudson’s feelings were echoed by Krisna Saravanamuttu, Ontario National Executive Representative of the Canadian Federation of Students, who said “Many people voted Liberal to support a tuition fee reduction and students are hopeful that Dalton McGuinty will keep his election promise by converting this grant into a tuition fee reduction for all students.”