The Canadian government has significantly cut education funding since 2008 while tuition fees continue to rise, resulting in $28 billion in student debt. The current OSAP system bases funding on parental income without considering whether students are financially supported by parents or parental debt levels. It also lacks accountability as students can use funds for non-school purposes without consequence. A redesigned OSAP system is needed that determines funding based on actual parental contributions, considers a variety of family financial factors, and provides constant oversight to ensure money is properly used.

1. EDUCATION FUNDING
IN CANADA
Where did we go wrong?

2. The Situation
• The Canadian Government has made significant cuts to
education funding in Canada since 2008
• This has created many problems for students, especially
due to the fact that tuition fees continue to rise
• The combination of these two facts has led student debt
to reach up to 28 billion dollars

3. OSAP: Helpful or Harmful?
• The amount of money received by students from the
OSAP system is based upon a students and parents
combined income
• This process does not account for the fact that some
students are not financially supported by their parents
• The system also does not factor in parental debt that may
prohibit them from paying for their child's education
• The OSAP system also has little accountability, as
students can easily use the money for things other than
school without being caught

4. How can we fix this?
• The solution is a redesigned OSAP system
Old OSAP System New Redesigned
Financial Aid System
Based on parental income Based on amount of funding
received from parents, not
parents income
Doesn’t factor in debt Looks at a wide variety of
family an financial factors to
determine funding amounts
Little accountability Constant checks and
balances to prove that
students are using funding
for appropriate purposes

5. Thank you for listening!
• If you have any other questions or comments, don’t
hesitate to contact me!