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<font size="2" face="Tahoma"><font style="background-color:
rgb(255, 255, 255);" size="2" face="Arial"><em>The following
statement was issued on January 17, 2019 by the Ontario
Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA),
in response to changes to post-secondary funding announced
by the Ontario government. Read the original post <a
onclick="return checkLinkHref(this.href);"
target="_blank"
href="https://ocufa.on.ca/press-releases/reckless-government-announcement-threatens-education-quality-and-students-rights/"
rel="noopener" moz-do-not-send="true">here</a>.</em><br>
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<div><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
size="2" face="Arial">TORONTO – Without increased
public funding for Ontario’s universities and
colleges, the Progressive Conservative Government’s
announced tuition fee reduction is nothing more than
an ill-conceived political gimmick designed to
distract Ontarians from damaging cuts to the
province’s already under-funded postsecondary
education system. OCUFA has long advocated for tuition
fee reductions but not in the absence of increased
core funding and sound student financial aid policy.</font></div>
<div><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
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<div><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
size="2" face="Arial">OCUFA is concerned that the fee
reduction, OSAP cuts, and changes to ancillary fees
were announced without consulting any stakeholders at
the province’s universities or colleges. This
demonstrates a government pursuing a political agenda,
not one interested in good public policy or helping
students.</font></div>
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<div><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
size="2" face="Arial">The announced OSAP cuts and
changes to eligibility criteria mean it will be harder
for many students to access postsecondary education.
While faculty are reassured that the Minister’s
remarks signaled the government’s commitment to not
cutting core operating grants for postsecondary
institutions, the announced changes mean that
universities and colleges will struggle with less
funding and students will be burdened with less
financial assistance, more expensive loans, and higher
debt.</font></div>
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<div><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
size="2" face="Arial">“These reckless changes will
shrink university budgets, increase class sizes,
encourage further tuition fee hikes for international
students, and threaten both the accessibility and
quality of postsecondary education in Ontario,” said
Gyllian Phillips, President of the Ontario
Confederation of University Faculty Associations. “We
should be accelerating investment in postsecondary
education in Ontario. Instead, this government has
slammed on the brakes and put the car in reverse.”</font></div>
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<div><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
size="2" face="Arial">The government’s unnecessary and
anti-democratic decision to make many ancillary fees
voluntary undermines students’ rights on campus and
increases administrative costs and red tape for
universities. Many of the fees the government has
identified as non-essential were introduced by
students through democratic votes. Students’ unions in
particular are democratically elected, not-for-profit
organizations founded by and for students. This is an
attack on the ability of students’ unions to represent
and support their members.</font></div>
<div><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
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<div><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
size="2" face="Arial">“Students’ unions provide
numerous crucial services and support for students on
campus, and, through their advocacy work, they play an
important role holding universities and governments
accountable for decisions about issues including
tuition fees and student financial assistance.” said
Phillips. “It is no coincidence that this government
is cutting support for students’ unions at the same
time they are cutting OSAP. Ironically, this appears
to be another attempt to stifle political debate,
dissent, and speech on campus.”</font></div>
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<div><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
size="2" face="Arial">Ontario’s universities are vital
institutions that produce amazing graduates and
research. But maintaining this level of excellence
will require that the government actually sit down and
talk to students, faculty, staff, and administrators,
instead of continuing to make uninformed decisions in
secret, behind closed doors.</font></div>
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<div><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
size="2" face="Arial">Founded in 1964, OCUFA
represents 17,000 faculty and academic librarians in
29 faculty associations across Ontario. For more
information, please visit <a onclick="return
checkLinkHref(this.href);" target="_blank"
x_onclick="return checkLinkHref(this.href);"
href="https://ocufa.on.ca/" rel="noopener"
moz-do-not-send="true">OCUFA's website</a>.</font></div>
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<div><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
size="2" face="Arial">–30–</font></div>
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<div><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
size="2" face="Arial">For more information, contact: </font></div>
<div><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
size="2" face="Arial">Ben Lewis, Communications Lead
at 416-306-6033 or <a onclick="return
checkLinkHref(this.href);" target="_blank"
x_onclick="return checkLinkHref(this.href);"
href="mailto:blewis@ocufa.on.ca"
moz-do-not-send="true">blewis@ocufa.on.ca</a></font></div>
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<div><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"
size="2" face="Arial">-- <br>
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