NDP takes up fight against OSAP changes

There is a campaign underway aimed at reversing changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program.

The provincial NDP has initiated it.

Save OSAP includes a website that asks people to sign petitions and letters objecting to the reduction of the grant portion of funding provided to eligible post-secondary students from 85% to 25%.

NDP leader Marit (MAR-it) Stiles says the move will leave students graduating into debt instead of opportunities.

“You cannot build a strong economy on the backs of a generation buried in debt,” states Stiles in a release.

“While Ford is busy insulting young people trying to get an education, students and their families will be forced to bear the costs of his cuts.”

The Premier insists the changes are necessary because the program is not sustainable under its current format.

He is standing behind them.

“It’s going to be 25%. And that puts us in the middle of the pack. That’s more than British Columbia. That’s more than Alberta. That’s more than Saskatchewan. Equal to Manitoba and other provinces across our country,” says Ford.