Recent changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) have drawn significant public attention. With reductions to non-repayable grants, an increased reliance on loans, and the anticipated return of tuition increases, students in Ontario are being asked to shoulder a growing share of the cost of post-secondary education. While these changes may appear exceptional, they are not. Instead, they reflect a broader transformation in how post-secondary education is funded across Canada, where the costs have steadily shifted from the public to the individual.
Rising Tuition and Uneven Costs Across Canada
Tuition fees in Canada have increased significantly over the past several decades, but the provincial differences are striking….