TORONTO--Toronto – Students welcome today's announcement that the Ontario government will commit $309 million to fund 60,000 new college and university spaces by 2015. However, students warn that funding dedicated to the sector that does not address the high cost of tuition fees will do nothing to improve or ensure accessibility.

"Students are happy to see the government commit to funding the creation of new college and university spaces, however this does not address the fundamental problem of skyrocketing tuition fees and student debt" said Sandy Hudson, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario.

Under the McGuinty Government, tuition fees have risen between four and eight percent annually, making Ontario the most expensive province in Canada in which to study. Students receiving public loans can graduate with $29,200 in debt after a four-year degree and those that have both public and private loans owe an average of $37,000."For every dollar that the McGuinty Government has made available to students through student financial aid improvements, $1.42 has been clawed back through tuition fee increases," said Hudson. "Accessibility is not just about creating more spaces, as many students can't even get their foot in the door and thousands more are graduating with mortgage-sized debt loads."

Students will be available to comment on the 2011 Ontario Budget immediately following its release.
DATE: Tuesday, March 29, 2011
TIME: 4:00 p.m.
PLACE: Queen's Park
WHO: Nora Loreto, Communications Coordinator: 416-846-6672
Nadine Tkatchevskaia, French media contact: 416-271-5759

The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario unites more than 300,000 college and university students studying at public post-secondary institutions across the province.

For more information please contact:
Nora Loreto, Communications and Government Relations Coordinator: 416-925-3825 or 416-846-6672 (cell)
Lauren Snowball, Campaigns Coordinator: 416-925-3825 or 416-878-7129 (cell)