“I don’t have any doubt that students will continue to show up and use their voice, because in the end, that is what will make the changes.”
Emily Edwards.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, IGNITE will keep pushing until the recent changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) are reversed.
We’ve attended the Rally for Student Life, welcomed two Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) to Humber Polytechnic’s Lakeshore campus and had our Time is Money campaign reach Queen’s Park. The message has always been about protecting post-secondary students’ rights.
On Tuesday, March 31 Student Advocates Emily Edwards and Selena Ferreira made another trip to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, this time, for Opposition Day.
Let’s break down what exactly Opposition Day is.
Opposition Day
Opposition Day is a dedicated period during parliamentary sessions where an opposition party can bring forward a motion for debate.
In this case, the Ontario New Democratic Party, led by Marit Stiles, introduced a motion calling on the provincial government to reverse the cuts to OSAP and eliminate interest on student loan payments.
“Young people are being squeezed by all sides in this province,” Stiles said during Question Period. “They are looking at higher student debt today and at a growing provincial debt tomorrow.”
The motion didn’t pass, with 60 “Nays” votes against 40 “Ayes.”
For Emily, the result was frustrating. She relied entirely on OSAP throughout her four years at the University of Guelph-Humber and said she “felt sick” when the results came in.
“These are students who aren’t even going to get to start their post-secondary education now because of those cuts,” Edwards said. “To hear all those student stories and then vote no, that was really upsetting.”
Now that we understand what Opposition Day is and the unfortunate outcome of the vote, let’s take a closer look at what IGNITE’s presence accomplished.
Students across the province share our fight
If you’re wondering, no. IGNITE didn’t go to Queen’s Park to back a specific political perspective or party. Our fight is only about students.
Every day, Emily and Selena hear the same stories from different students at Humber and UofGH. They all share the same concerns about the impact of the changes to OSAP.
And that’s what made attending Opposition Day so meaningful. Our Student Advocates learned that Humber and UofGH students aren’t alone.
Emily said they heard MPPs from across the province speak about the same struggles students are facing in their own communities. The stories IGNITE hears across Humber and UofGH campuses are also being told province-wide.
“It’s a good feeling to be able to have that connection with students because I’m experiencing them myself,” Edwards said. “A lot of my peers solely fund their post-secondary education by themselves, so I know how those cuts impact them.”
Emily is planning to attend teachers’ college, but with the recent changes to OSAP, she’s unsure what her funding will look like or if continuing her education will even be possible.
“I’m already in major debt from the past four years, so it’s a bit frustrating to have to go into more debt that’s already weighing on me,” Edwards said.
Emily also noted that other student unions and students were present in the viewing gallery at Queen’s Park.
She emphasized how important it is to build relationships with MPPs. As they spoke about OSAP, many acknowledged the students in the room and waved at them while sharing their stories.
That included MPP Lee Fairclough (Etobicoke-Lakeshore), whose riding includes the Humber Lakeshore campus. She highlighted concerns from students in the local community.
“I hear the same story again and again. Young people thought they could be completing their college and university degree, and now they are having second thoughts,” Fairclough said during Debate Period. “They feel their future plans fading away.”
So keep speaking up. Sometimes, politics can feel distant. But Emily and Selena’s experience during Opposition Day shows that your voices are being heard.
What’s next?
“The fight isn’t over. Keep using your voices.”
That’s the message Emily is sharing with students following Opposition Day.
With student concerns now being discussed directly among decision makers, IGNITE Student Advocates believe momentum is building, but real change will only happen if that pressure continues.
Emily and Selena will continue meeting with decision makers, including discussions with MPPs and Humber executives. But this momentum can’t stay hot alone. Emily encourages students to keep sharing their stories and reaching out to the Student Advocates directly.
“We’ve been attending town halls, talking to MPPs, and will continue to do so,” Edwards said. “We’d love to hear their stories and share them when we participate in these meetings.”
“I don’t have any doubt that students will continue to show up and use their voice, because in the end, that is what will make the changes.”
Students from across the province are paying close attention and speaking up about the recent changes to OSAP.
While the outcome of Opposition Day wasn’t the result many — including IGNITE — hoped for, it showed that student voices are reaching the rooms where decisions are made.
Wondering what can you do right now? See which way your MPP voted and send them an email.
The change starts with you, and IGNITE will keep bringing your stories forward.
Feature image courtesy of IGNITE.
Still haven’t filed your taxes? Check out why filing taxes as a student isn’t just about money!
Follow us on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok for all things student life.
