November 10th, 2026

The Trent Central Student Association is aware of Premier Doug Ford's statements following our November 5th Hands Off Our Education rally. The rally aimed to raise awareness of the recent cuts to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) and the chronic underfunding of Ontario's post-secondary education sector.

While Ford's $6.4 billion investment was one of necessity, universities across the province are still running a deficit that has resulted in significant decreases to their operating budgets. Pair this with the lifted tuition cap and the changes the Ontario government has made to OSAP, students are still left priced out of education, and it is not sufficient to address the chronic underfunding or the long-standing and consistent underspending of public and post-secondary education.

We are deeply concerned by Premier Ford’s dismissive response to students who participated in the National Day of Action. Students deserve a meaningful say in the education they are paying for, and the provincial government has a responsibility to listen and respond to their concerns with respect. Premier Ford’s dismissal undermines the government’s stated commitment to supporting students. The TCSA urges the provincial government to engage directly with students and take immediate action to address the financial barriers that threaten their access to post-secondary education.

Students choose to study and remain in Ontario after graduation because of the promised opportunities a college or university education provides. To truly secure a strong future for all, there must be a stable, long-term funding strategy for education that has dedicated public funding for public education, an intentional shift in the system that doesn't rely on tuition fees, and OSAP that financially supports all students and their access to education.

Yours in solidarity,

The TCSA Executive Team