Ontario students are now forking over more money for post-secondary education than students in any other province, according to a Statistics Canada report released Oct. 20.
In 2009-10, undergraduate and graduate students in Ontario paid $5,951 and $8,642 on average, respectively, exceeding the national average by more than $1,000 and $2,600.
Dan Moulton, the president of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, said the Ontario tuition figures are very concerning. The province should be number one in education quality, accessibility and affordability, not setting new records for tuition levels in Canada, he said.
“I think the Statistics Canada report indicates what [the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA)] has been saying for a very long time,” said Erik Halliwell, the president of CUSA. “Winning the prize for highest tuition fees across the country isn’t something Ontario should be seeking.”
Halliwell called Ontario’s tuition levels “unacceptable and unreasonable.” He said education is very important to this province, and the increase in tuition should not happen given the economic climate.
“It is very unfortunate for the students because post-secondary education is now required for 70 per cent of the jobs in Canada, and it has become a necessity to attend universities,” Halliwell said.
“Consequently, students will be forced to take on more debts and loans.”
But not all students agreed that increased government funding is the answer.
“I do think that Ontario university tuition is high, but the money to subsidize would likely [come from] raised taxes, which in the long run, may end up costing Ontario-resident university students more than just paying tuition, considering we pay taxes after we graduate,“ said Kristyna Moravec, a second-year student in political science and history.
Halliwell said that CUSA will continue to lobby Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill to work towards creating accessible education for students across Canada.
“We need to call on the provincial government to increase funding for universities in Ontario,” Moulton said.
“Currently, Ontario students pay for 40 per cent of [the] university operating budget, and the national average is 38 per cent. It is about time the Ontario and Canadian governments show leadership on this issue through serious new investments in higher education.”
Moulton said the Ontario government needs to bring per-student funding up to the national average and the federal government needs to act on the nation-wide problem of rising fees across the country.
How Carleton compares
Average annual undergraduate tuition fees for full-time domestic students:
Business, management and public administration
Carleton: $6,683
Canada: $5,073
Engineering
Carleton: $7,560
Canada: $5,583
Humanities
Carleton: $5,773
Canada: $4,501
Social and behavioural science
Carleton: $5,491
Canada: $4,399