UTM New Democrats and Model Parliament host MPP Chris Glover to discuss OSAP cuts and tuition reforms 
Students discuss mobilization, campaigns, and advocacy calls to save OSAP.

On February 26, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) New Democrats (UTMNDP) and UTM Model Parliament hosted Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Chris Glover for Spadina-Fort York at a speaker event. 

The event brought students together for a close circle discussion on education and policy, including recent changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), tuition reforms and their impact on post-secondary students across Ontario. 

Discussing with students, Glover emphasized that OSAP and tuition fee increases would significantly increase student debt over the course of a four-year degree. He called on students to organize and mobilize through petitions, town halls, emails and protests.

OSAP and tuition fees 

Beyond OSAP, the MPP addressed Bill 33 and its implications for student resources and unions. The legislation could weaken student governance structures and destabilize campus advocacy. Glover emphasized the importance of an organized campus community in responding to policy changes impacting education funding. 

He referenced the 2019 OSAP changes, which resulted in a tuition freeze following student action against OSAP grant cuts and increased funding for loans. Glover described students organizing across campuses to protest the changes, displaying that students are not powerless and that student action matters.

During the event introductions, Model Parliament Club President Maria Murphy explained the importance of being engaged in politics. “I realized how important it is and just how it applies to literally every single aspect of our society.” She added, “Our elections are a way that we can hold politicians accountable and choose the direction we want our country to go in, and [when] people aren’t informed, they don’t vote, and they don’t participate.”

The Medium interviewed attendees throughout the event.

Murphy discussed the impact of OSAP cuts on future students, saying “It’s devastating, because funding and the cost [of] university is something that people do take into account when choosing to pursue it. And I do think that education is right; everyone should be able to access it. It shouldn’t be hard to pay for university.” 

She also shared her financial journey preparing for university. “I’ve been working since I was 13, and I’ve been saving up money since. I can only imagine how much more difficult it would be, especially with so many students working minimum wage jobs, to save up the funds that they need to pay for university.”

UTMNDP Co-Presidents Ibrahim Haq and Roy Su shared with The Medium how campus clubs can educate students on important topics like OSAP.

Haq explained, “The thing we’re trying to do is work with as many on-campus student organizations as possible. We want to reach a lot of people and to know what people think. Get everyone who’s involved to know what’s happening with the OSAP cuts.” He added, “The OSAP cuts affect all of us. It’s going to affect our debt in the future.”

Su shared, “It’s always the political parties at school that [provide] a chance to get grab at politics. If you have a passion in topics we talk about, then you should come [to events].” 

Miguel Cruz, the vice president of Model Parliament and secretary for UTMNDP, stressed the importance of face-to-face conversations with students and representatives. “Having an MPP here is terrific—you can directly hear from his experiences. You can see how government affects the real world. It’s not an abstract concept that you see on TV.” UTMNDP finance executive Ayun Jung corroborated Cruz’s point, sharing, “Students get to directly talk to the people who are involved in policy making.”

MPP Glover shared the expected additional tuition costs for students following the most recent OSAP changes. “Federal Liberals are gonna add C$1,200 a year on students in terms of debt. The provincial Conservatives are adding C$3,500. Total of C$4,700 in additional debt for every year. Over a four-year undergraduate degree, it would be an additional C$18,800 of debt.”

Glover spoke to each student who attended. When asked about the importance of speaking with students, he replied, “I came here primarily to listen and to learn from the students. To share what I know, and to help them to achieve their goals.” He highlighted the role of student clubs like the UTMNDP and Model Parliament Club, hosting discussions and inviting representatives. “Thank you for being involved. It’s so important. Democracy only works when people get involved.”

How to get involved

In an interview with The Medium, Alesha Cabrel, a constituency assistant for MPP Glover, explained the importance of student mobilization. “Our main goal is to just get people active, engaged, mobilized, get boots on the ground and get people really excited to make a change.” She also advised students to take urgent action, “Don’t be scared to get political. Don’t be scared to go to a protest. Don’t be scared to flood the streets. At the end of the day, these are our streets, and we deserve to be seen and heard in them. There are many precedents for this type of event. We know that change can happen.” 

The event concluded with calls to action for students to remain engaged through petitions, town halls, and organizing advocacy work. On March 12, 7 p.m., the federal New Democratic Party (NDP) will be hosting a Save OSAP town hall in downtown Toronto, bringing together students and unions to fight back against OSAP changes. The exact location of this event is as yet unannounced. Students can also sign the petition on the saveosap.ca website.