IGNITE’s Time is Money campaign reaches Queen’s Park

We won’t stop until paid WIL becomes the standard.

While IGNITE continues to push the provincial government about the recent changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), we continue our advocacy for paid work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities.

WIL opportunities like co-ops and internships are essential for students to acquire real-world experience and grow in their field. However, students shouldn’t have to work for free just to graduate.

Here’s what the numbers from Humber Polytechnic and the University of Guelph-Humber show:

Only 24 per cent of Humber’s current placements have mandatory compensation (2025).
In 2023-2024, just 20 per cent of UofGH students were compensated for their WIL placements.

This means that 80 per cent of students completed unpaid work to earn their credentials.

Experience is important, no doubt about it. But students also deserve fair compensation. With rising grocery and rent prices and higher tuition costs, working for free creates more financial pressure on post-secondary students.

Through our Time is Money campaign, we have outreached different Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs).

MPP Peggy Sattler (London West) raised this issue at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on Nov. 17. Sattler remarked on the data IGNITE collected and highlighted the importance of paid opportunities for students.

We’re excited to see this conversation happening among decision-makers, but our work will continue until paid WIL becomes the standard.

Humber and UofGH students can support by:

Reaching out to your local MPP.
Signing IGNITE’s Time is Money petition so we can bring your voice directly to Queen’s Park.

We are calling on the provincial government to:

Pass legislation requiring all WIL opportunities to be paid.
Mandate colleges and universities to only partner with employers who compensate students.
Expand funding programs, like the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant, to support students across all fields.

We can feel the momentum growing, especially after the recent Rally for Student Life at Queen’s Park. When students come together, the chances for meaningful change increase.

Follow IGNITE’s social media channels to stay updated on our advocacy campaigns.

Feature image courtesy of IGNITE.

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