TORONTO--College and university students across Ontario were concerned that today's throne speech failed to address the financial burden being placed on students and their families because of high tuition fees.

"Students were enthusiastic about previous indications from the Ontario government that fighting poverty would be a priority," said Jen Hassum, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario. "But the lack of attention to skyrocketing tuition fees is cause for concern."

The Federation cites high tuition fees as the root cause of the tripling of student debt in the last 15 years and students' growing reliance on food banks.

"With seventy-five percent of new jobs requiring post-secondary education, it is vital that tuition fees not be priced out of reach," said Hassum. "If the McGuinty government is serious about tackling poverty it needs to commit to more than a limited textbook grant by including tuition fee reductions for students and their families."

According to recent polling data from the Canadian Association of University Teachers and the Canadian Federation of Students, 88% of Ontarians think tuition fees should be frozen or lowered. In the same study, it was reported that 62% of Ontarians think that addressing student debt and high fees is the single most important issue within Ontario's post-secondary education sector."Students and their families continue to call for the new Government of Ontario to roll back tuition fee increases, end the collection of illegal ancillary fees, and reinvest in need-based grants," said Hassum.

The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario unites more than 300,000 college and university students and 35 students' unions across the province.