"Shame,” Stiles calls Ford’s Conservatives out for voting against saving OSAP

QUEEN’S PARK — Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition NDP, forced a vote today, calling on Doug Ford to reverse his cuts to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), and scrap the interest on student loans.

“We told Doug Ford to do the right thing: scrap the OSAP cuts and the interest on student loans,” said Stiles. “The Premier decided to send a crystal-clear message to Ontario’s youth: he does not care about their future.

“Ford and his Conservative government have trapped Ontario’s next generation in a vicious cycle of few opportunities, sky-high rent, and outrageous cost of living. Instead of making life more affordable, Doug Ford’s cuts are leaving them picking between their future and a lifetime debt sentence. This is absolutely shameful."

“Doug Ford had a chance to give our youth a desperately-needed lifeline,” said Shadow Minister for Colleges and Universities Peggy Sattler (London West). “He used that chance to bury them under a lifetime of student debt. This is a heartless move that will disproportionately affect low-to-moderate-income students and their families.

“The Premier has all the money in the world for his absurd vanity projects, but suddenly the coffers have dried up when it comes to post-secondary education. Institutions have constantly been told to do more with less during eight years of Conservative underfunding. Now, the cost is being downloaded on to students as well. Today's vote is a disgrace.”

“The Premier may not be able to see it past the silver spoon in his mouth, but we’re not going anywhere, and neither is our next generation,” added Stiles. “This isn’t the end of the fight. We’ll use every means we have to save OSAP, and make sure Ontario’s youth can help build a bright future for all of us.”