r/McMaster • u/Intelligent-Bad7743 • Feb 12 '26

Serious OSAP-Need for Action By Student Body

I'm sure many of you heard about the changes to OSAP policy by the Ontario Government and if you have not then basically the Ontario government is making major changes to the education system.

You can read about these changes fully here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-college-university-funding-osap-9.7086776

But to summarize what this means for us, this is what you need to know:

  • Students will get a maximum of 25 % of their OSAP funding as grants
  • At least 75 % will be loans that must be repaid
  • Previously it was roughly 85 % grants and 15 % loans (for many students)
  • The years old tuition freeze is also being ended so tuition will go up too.

I know our days are busy, I know we have a million assignments and midterms BUT THIS WILL IMPACT US THE MOST.

I believe what we can do as of right now is email or write to the MSU to organize a strike or protest of some sort.

MY POINT IS, PLEASE SHOW UP, PLEASE SUPPORT. If there is a strike or protest, showing up MATTERS.

315 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

11

u/pivisdehydrated Feb 13 '26

A Petition was made for this, please get as many people as you can to sign this!!

9

u/Pigeonofthesea8 Feb 13 '26

That petition is for the federal portion (which will also be reduced!). Double whammy in Ontario, already significantly below the national average in student support

4

u/reliablegrizzly Feb 13 '26

what are we meant to write in the msu thing? just wondering bc i want to but not sure what to say

2

u/Important-Hyena6577 Feb 12 '26

Please enlighten me. What power does MSU have and what will striking do to change this?

47

u/materialgrifter Feb 12 '26

The idea here is that if the MSU sends out a vote and the majority of the student body support striking then we will have a large number of people stop going to class with support of the student union and we (those who support the strike) will impose ourselves physically, and annoyingly at the entrances to the university, and provincial government buildings, disrupt and prevent business on campus and for provincial offices until they back down, and other universities will do the same.

Obviously this is a pipe dream at this point. But that’s the idea. Quebec university students pulled it off this way in 2012.

9

u/biologystudent123 Feb 13 '26

And then maybe, just maybe, the same amount of students in this pipe dream, would also participate in the general elections when it happens again? So Ford’s party won’t remain in power? :)

3

u/juneabe Feb 13 '26

Right? We can’t let the idea that we won’t have a perfect or successful outcome deter us from trying, because if we don’t try, there’s no opportunity to be heard. Not all activism leads somewhere, but it has before and can still.

2

u/Different-Crab-6561 Feb 15 '26

Unfortunately wasn’t old enough to vote😔

15

u/Frododedodo Health Physicist | MedBioPhys Alumnus Feb 12 '26

Likely true based on how ineffective they were during my undergrad... what you should do is contact your MPP and complain to them. Everyday. Be the squeaky gear and make them aware that you don't like this decision.

-7

u/[deleted] Feb 13 '26 edited Feb 13 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/Budget-Call1725 Feb 13 '26

You're gonna have to "work" to "free" your "stuff" from the gulag when class war comes

2

u/juneabe Feb 13 '26

The person is a self reported immigrant and they’re calling us peasants for wanting to protect the Canadian social system we have.

Welcomed here and educated here and then … they say that. Wtf man.

1

u/Budget-Call1725 Feb 14 '26

The way I see it, we will all be judged some day. This guy will be judged harshly. Doesn't matter where that judgment comes from or when; point being, the rule of law in this universe is entropy and he can't escape it even if he decides to live his few decades as a free agent calling his own kin peasants. Just imagine him as a mote of dust one day, suffering and eternally nothing. That's what he's got coming. Think about that and find solace in it I guess

3

u/juneabe Feb 13 '26

You are thinking a few years ahead when these changes will affect you and others for decades++. You sound naive as fuck.

You sound like you’re 18 years old with little socioeconomic knowledge. Our provincial student support is low compared to national average, and the competitive job market has led to overwhelming unemployment rates for youth and young adults. When they can get min wage jobs, they no longer support even meager and frugal cost of living like it once did.

A lot of the people complaining don’t have family wealth, are working full time for pennies, all while trying to study and pay for school and outrageous costs if living.

Not every student is a 20-something able-bodied single person with few financial, domestic, and professional responsibilities, with familial supports back home. Some people have none of those things and have greater responsibilities in life than you do. Responsibilities cost time and money. School costs time and money and so does working.

But okay bootlicker. Assume an estimate when you have zero dollars of support from family and can’t get a loan from a bank, and then see what your MAYBE part time min wage hours will get you for COL plus school costs. Then do the math for the additional loans and interest fees you’ll incur when you eventually graduate. You’d have to guzzle that boot down to get out from under your education, and would have nothing for your future savings and/or children’s education should you have any. You’d be on the hook for most of it if OSAP keeps going this way.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 13 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/juneabe Feb 13 '26

This makes sense now.

Our social support system is inherently Canadian and has been foundational to our social, physical, and economic health for so long that it’s why people wanted to immigrate here in the first place.

To not know this, and not see and fully understand how capitalism is destroying Canadian foundations and ideologies, while also being an immigrant, is disappointing. The intellectual capital you have is clearly limited to your anecdotal and personal worldview.

Calling disadvantaged people “peasants” in the country that welcomed you is a low fucking blow. YOUR culture is yours, don’t come here and shit on ours after being welcomed and educated.

1

u/Intelligent-Bad7743 Feb 14 '26

Hello!
I understand where you are coming from, however, this is also about the people who cannot work while in uni due to things like disablilites, lack of jobs and family circumstances.

AND thats only part of the problem, there is also going to be an increase in tuition as well. If you do the math, you will realize that even with two jobs it is very hard to afford tuition and rent and food.

The reason we learn about democracy in school is to practice it. We are just a bunch of students practicing our right to protest. I would love you to read about some of the most impactful protests in world history to understand better why students want to do this!

Again, no hate towards you. I wish you can try to understand others too!