Time is Money -
Don't Spend It for Free!

Students are expected to work for experience, but experience won’t pay the bills. Unpaid work is unfair and unsustainable. It’s time for change.

Students deserve compensation for mandatory work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities like placements, internships and co-ops. Working for free isn’t just inconvenient—it’s a major barrier. The Financial Post reports that 65% of students are financially unstable and 45% struggling to cover basic needs like food and housing.  

SIGN THE PETITION

IGNITE is calling
for change

from Humber Polytechnic and the University of Guelph-Humber; 

Sign the Petition - End Unpaid Work

We want you to work hard, learn and grow in your field – not work for free.

This petition is our collective voice. We will Deliver your signatures directly to decision makers this November.

Unpaid work is not experience. It’s exploitation. Sign now. 

SIGN THE PETITION

Compensated opportunities are essential for students to focus on their education without the constant worry about making ends meet.

IGNITE is working toward a future where every student is fairly compensated for their work

But we need your help.

Share this petition with your friend and use #TimeisMoney to keep the conversation going..

We’re committed to compensation and we’re not
backing down until we see real change.

Confession of an Unpaid Intern

Jessica Carrera

Program: Hotel and Restaurant Operation Management

Juggling unpaid internships, work, school and motherhood isn’t easy. Hear Jessica’s firsthand experience and why she believes students deserve better support. 

Onoriode Francis Osifo

Program: Bachelor of Child and Youth Care

Frustrated with unpaid internships? So is Francis. Watch as he shares his thoughts on the issue and why he’s calling on schools to secure compensated opportunities for students.

Siddhi Lakshmee Rughoobeer

Program: Event Management

Unpaid internships took a toll on Siddhi’s finances and education. Listen to her powerful story about the struggles she faced and why institutions need to step up. 

See What Other Interns are Saying

I did a placement at Toronto South Detention Centre. They made it clear from the beginning that they didn't pay us on purpose so that at any point they could send us home. And reminded us very often that we were expendable “they do not need us here”.
Mazin AnwarProgram: Justice Studies
In my previous program I had an mandatory co-op and it was had to find one and through Humber networking event I got one but it was unpaid we even asked for minimum wage but it was not considered.
AnonymousProgram: Web Development
Practical Nursing students shouldn’t do 60 volunteer hours in organizations not even affiliated with nursing. How can volunteering at a furniture store help me with my nursing studies? On top of that, they expect us to do those hours with a full time course load and 9 hour unpaid placements. I guess they just don’t want us to work to survive.
AnonymousProgram: Practical Nursing
I don't understand why the unpaid internship practice is still a thing in a world of great inflation like Canada. Talk about modern-day slavery. Even without certifications, students are still learning about what they're hired to do at work, and most of the work that's done in the workplace can be 100% taught at the job. Pay us for our time. Minimum wage is better than nothing.
AnonymousProgram: Business Management
I did an unpaid internship in 2023 so to Flip foundation where I helped the organization’s research about minority groups under representation in leadership positions. I was fully invested in the research project, not only was I not paid as the internship was unpaid, I also did not get my name mentioned in that research publication even if I did most of the research.
Efe ObukohwoProgram: Information Technology Solutions
We are expected to act like professionals, we do all the labour chores. We sacrifice our part time shifts at least if we get some amount for food and transportation that would be a great help. Otherwise it's taking toll on our tuition fees.
AnonymousProgram: Early Childhood Education
Getting asked to work for 24 hours over the period of 4 days in the name of experience and being told that you cannot compare the level of experience one shall gain from this with monetary compensation. Hopefully this would change someday and everyone gets the compensation they deserve and work for .
AnonymousProgram: Global Business Management
Doing unpaid work for strenuous hours especially as a nursing student is very taxing both mentally and physically. Being on a hospital unit for 12 hours doing almost the same amount of work as registered nurses unpaid becomes demoralizing. Especially considering the cost of school supplies, transportation to and from school and clinical, and tuition. Paid work would definitely be beneficial for any student, more than ever in this economy.
AnonymousProgram: Bachelor of Science-Nursing
My nursing placements are unpaid and require long, physically demanding 12+ hour shifts. While these experiences have been valuable for learning, they make it extremely difficult to work a paying job. The time commitment of WIL has added a lot of financial stress, as gaining experience doesn’t pay the bills. It’s a tough balance between education and financial survival.
AnonymousProgram: Bachelor of Science-Nursing
As a full time student, I believe Humber should connect us with paid placements. Tuitions are not cheap, it would be less burdening to us if we would given opportunity to work and make money on the side as well.
AnonymousProgram: Criminal Justice
As a single mum of 2 kids, it's hard going for placement without pay. Rent is high, groceries and I don't get to work as much as I used to to support my kids. We have atleast a paid minimum wage placement.
AnonymousProgram: Practical Nursing
I am in the aesthetician program and I find that we do end up working a lot and not getting paid. It’s technically a full shift and services are done that cost a lot of money as well as products but students make nothing for it when it’s supposed to feel like an actual work experience. It would be more motivated if we actually made money because it would feel more like an experiential vibe.
AnonymousProgram: Esthetician and Spa Management
I don’t like the idea of having to work for free. It seems like rebranded slavery and letting companies get away with exploiting labour from students looking to get a start in their careers. It’s also not as if these companies can’t afford to pay their interns. Even if it’s just for minimum wage, it’s still better than nothing.
AnonymousProgram: UX Design
It is important for Humber to take into consideration how much students are struggling just to get by in this economy. Students should be able to find a placement or co-op without worrying about money and whether their gonna have enough money to put food on the table or pay rent for the month. Our own time that we put into these unpaid internships deserve recognition. Compensation for our time, effort, and dedication should NOT be second-guessed.
AnonymousProgram: Community and Justice Services
I am in the ECS transfer program at Guelph-Humber. While at Humber I did 3 internships/coop placements that were unpaid. 2 of them were in Downtown, Toronto, even though I live in Mississauga. The commute was $28 a day; and that’s just for transit. It was super hard on me because the commute was so long and I would have to get up at 5am to be on time. This was especially difficult during the winter while it snowed.
AnonymousEarly Childhood Studies
As an international student it’s complicated to have internship without payment. My time availability for part time work reduce since I need to be commitment with my internship, but I still need to pay for groceries and life here, which can get complicated without a payment for my internship.
AnonymousProgram: Child and Youth Care
I am a struggling student, trying to pay for my education but since school is so hectic I find it hard to manage work and school. With Co-op, I am going to have to manage school, work and co-op which will be a major challenge for me. The co-op opportunity is unpaid so I will struggle even more managing not enough hours, plus school, plus placement 3 times a week.
AnonymousProgram: Social Service Worker
Times are hard and I believe all students should be given the opportunity to gain valuable work experience while also being a key in financially support themselves through paid experience. Not only do unpaid internships make it difficult for students to pay their bills, but it also demotivates them in doing their internships. Other institutions promote paid coop opportunities, so why can’t GH and Humber do the same for their students.
AnonymousProgram: Business
I was very excited to start my placement at a gym located in Downtown. The first week went really well—they explained that we (myself and five other interns) would receive good training, do shadowing, and get experience in personal training. Now, I’m in week six, and I’m spending around 20 hours per week doing sales and administrative tasks without pay, and the experience has been disappointing.
AnonymousProgram: Fitness and Health Promotion
I’d appreciate the experience, but not getting paid would feel frustrating, especially if I were contributing real work. It could also be a financial burden, making me question how much my efforts are valued.
AnonymousProgram: Computer Programming

Time is Money - FAQs

Accordion Content

You can support the campaign by signing our petition to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities. Your voice holds weight! 

Work-integrated learning opportunities are experiential education opportunities that take students out of the classroom and into their industry. These include co-ops, internships and placements. 

Compensation can include an hourly wage, salary or honorarium. 

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Integrated Learning?

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