The 2011 release of the Ontario Budget by the McGuinty government is getting mixed reactions from students and faculty in the province.
According to a press release from the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario (CFS-O), the new budget dedicates $309 million to expand enrolment by 60,000 new students by 2015.
The budget also includes funding to support the continuation of the summer jobs program, strengthening of literacy and basic skills, and an increase in student spaces, but does not address relief from the high tuition fees or debt that the McGuinty government has enforced over the past six years.
“It is disappointing to see that the McGuinty government has prioritized future student spaces at the expense of drastically increasing tuition fees, which has led to record-high levels of student debt,” said Sandy Hudson, chairperson for CFS-O, in the press release.
“It is hard for students to appreciate the creation of new student spaces when Canada’s national student debt is about to surpass $15 billion,” she added.
The release of the budget has also received mixed reviews from professors and academic librarians, because it does not provide additional money for faculty hiring, facility renewal, teaching or research.
The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) website draws attention to the high tuition fees in Ontario. OCUFA is disappointed that the new budget does not address this, according to their website.
Based on the CFS-O press release, Ontario has the highest average undergraduate fees in Canada, creating potential serious implications for the affordability of higher education.
However, in its own press release, the McGuinty government maintains that despite facing a sizable deficit, the strategic new investment demonstrates that the government recognizes the importance of higher education.
Not everyone is displeased with the new budget.
“Investing in Ontario’s youth is the silver bullet that will ensure our province’s long-term prosperity,” said Meaghan Coker, president of the Ontario University Student Alliance (OUSA), in a statement. “This is absolutely the right choice for Ontario’s future.”
Over $20 million dollars has been granted to extend an existing summer employment program which will work to employ 100,000 students.
“The existing age requirement for the program remains a concern,” said Jim Robeson, director of advocacy for the College Student Alliance (CSA) in a press release. The program is currently limited to students aged 18-25.
“Students of any age should be eligible to apply for this program,” Robeson said.
In addition, a $44 million three-year investment will be used to strengthen literacy and basic skills and a multi-year accountability agreement between colleges, universities and the government will work to improve quality and student achievement in post-secondary education.
In spite of this being the last budget before the next provincial election, there are no references to any post-secondary education tax credits, meaning that government may not meet the promise made in 2007 to move the $330 million currently being spent on these credits.