Free tuition promises to create a more educated Sault workforce: Orazietti

An effort by the provincial and federal governments to allow greater access to post-secondary education will be transformative for the Sault, says MPP David Orazietti.

Sault MP Terry Sheehan and MPP David Orazietti discussed their governments’ efforts to make post-secondary education more affordable — and free for students of families who make $50,000 or less — during a press conference held at Sault College this morning. 

Both provincial and federal funding promises had previously been announced. 

Sheehan said education is a great equalizer and these announcements will encourage lower-income high school students to be successful.

“Some students that can’t afford college or university have no encouragement to get their Grade 12 and finish high school. This is really important,” said Sheehan.

More than 3,200 Sault Ste. Marie students were enrolled in full-time college and university programs during the 2014-2015 school year.

Orazietti said the changes are going to be hugely transformative in Sault Ste. Marie and a more educated workforce will assist in diversifying the economy as businesses decide to remain or relocate to the city .

“We would have much greater challenges without [the college and university] and we are much better off for them,” said Orazietti.

John Stadnyk, director of education for the Huron-Superior District Catholic School Board, said the announcement by provincial and federal governments to offer free tuition for low and middle income students comes at a good time. 

“We have a significant amount of poverty in our community and our students, represented both in our board and the public board,” said Stadnyk.

“I think what this will do is give some hope and opportunity for them to go beyond high school diploma.” 

In his previous role as a high school teacher, Orazietti saw the effects of poverty on the future of his students.

“As kids move through high school and make it to the higher grades, they’re talking about what they are going to do after high school — whether or not they are going to go to college. There are students in those classrooms who aren’t participating in those conversations because they know their family doesn’t have the money to go to a college or university,” said Orazietti.

Ron Common, president of Sault College, hopes the initiatives will open more opportunities for students who come from lower-income families.

“Sometimes affordability is an impediment. With these announcements — both federally and provincially — it should be possible for all students to come to a post-secondary education,” said Common.

Sheehan also spoke of a provision in the federal budget for increased infrastructure funding available to post-secondary institutions.

Common said the college intends to apply for that funding and has three proposals ready to submit.

He said the college has been trying to get funding for the last three years for an institute of energy and the environment.

“There are significant infrastructure dollars going toward developing programs for environmental sustainability and applied research. We will be applying,” said Common.

Sault Ste. Marie is the second smallest community in Ontario to include both a college and a university, said Common.

Sheehan said having the two post-secondary institutions offers a distinct advantage for the city.

News releases issued by the offices of MPP David Orazietti and MP Terry Sheehan respectively follow below:

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The Ontario Liberal government is making college and university more accessible and affordable for low and middle-income students in Sault Ste. Marie through the single-largest modernization ever of the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), David Orazietti MPP announced today.

“Transforming our province’s student assistance program will make an important difference in the lives of a significant number of students in our community,” said Orazietti. “This investment further reduces barriers and helps to ensure that all students have the opportunity to obtain a post-secondary education.”  

As announced in the 2016 Budget, the government will create a single, targeted, non-repayable grant — the Ontario Student Grant — starting in the 2017-18 school year. The changes to OSAP will make average tuition free for more than 150,000 eligible low- and middle-income students across the province and will reduce the cost for many more by:

• Eliminating provincial student loan debt for eligible students and delivering free tuition for students whose parents earn less than $50,000
• Providing the majority of eligible students whose parents earn the median annual income of $83,300 or less with enough in grants to cover their tuition costs
• Ensuring that all eligible students receive the equivalent grant of 30% Off Tuition or more through the new grant program

The Ontario Student Grant will provide additional support for full-time mature and married students, and eligibility will no longer be tied to the number of years a student has been out of high school. This predictable, upfront grant will allow families in Sault Ste. Marie to plan for their education on the basis of net price — the difference between the sticker price of tuition and what a student actually needs to pay. The government will work closely with the postsecondary sector to develop planning tools that more accurately calculate the net tuition and net price of a university or college education.

“This new budget initiative is wonderful news for our current and future students and I applaud the government for this announcement and for investing in college education. With this initiative, the majority of our applicants will qualify for a non-repayable Ontario student grant,” said Dr. Ron Common, Sault College President. “A combination of the new Federal student aid initiative with the provincial non-repayable student grants, combined with the generous college scholarship and bursaries program should mean that lack of financial support should no longer be an impediment to attending the #1 college, as rated in student satisfaction in Ontario.”

“We are very pleased to see the new Ontario Student Grant program and the opportunities being made available by the Ontario government for our students,” said Academic Dean, Dr. Richard McCutcheon of Algoma University. “We believe that this new model will help make post-secondary education more accessible and affordable for a significant percentage of our students and others across Ontario.”  

Breaking down barriers to postsecondary education in Sault Ste. Marie is part of the government's economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes investing in talent and skills, including helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario's history and investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.

QUICK FACTS

• Over 3,200 students from Sault Ste. Marie were enrolled full-time in college and university programs in 2014-15.
• Since 2003 provincial funding to colleges has increased by 75% and for universities by 84%
• About 80 per cent of OSAP recipients, or 250,000 Ontario students, are expected to end up with lower student loan debt as a result of the changes to OSAP than they would under current OSAP rules.
•  300,000 students are expected to receive the same amount of grant support or more as a result of the changes to OSAP than they would under current OSAP rules.
• Ninety per cent of dependent college students whose parents earn less than $50,000 are expected to receive OSAP grants that are greater than average college tuition. 
• Seventy per cent of dependent university students whose parents earn less than $50,000 are expected to receive OSAP grants that are greater than average university tuition. 
• The $50,000 family income threshold is based on Statistics Canada’s Low-Income Measure for a four-person household, before tax.

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Today, Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, MPP David Orazietti, and representatives from Sault College met to discuss the important steps Canadian governments are taking to support young Canadians and students.

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