politics
sometimes i like to know that i could change things if i wanted...maybe not the world because i am not that ambitious...but little things...like provincial governments.
i don't like this whole end the tuition freeze business...hell..i don't like having to pay tuition in the first place...so i found this fun form letter at the canadian federation of students website...and i altered it as is often my wont...
you can read it here
March 10 2006
Dear Premier McGuinty,
I am calling on you to immediately reconsider your plan to increase tuition
fees for college and university students in Ontario. Tuition fees have
tripled in the last 15 years and I am shocked and disappointed that your
government is moving to increase fees again.
By raising tuition fees you will create more hardship for Ontario students
and families, as greater numbers of students are forced to borrow larger
amounts of money, work more jobs or consider quitting school altogether.
As a student I currently work 3 jobs that as per usual pay marginally more
than minimum wage. If you raise tuition fees I will not be able to afford to
pay rent unless I begin working in a far more profitable industry, either
phone sex or prostitution. This is what you are driving students to sir. I
hope its not what you intend. (this paragraph is mine. the rest is standard form letter. we know i like to be overly dramatic to prove my point sometimes...ok...all the time.)
You will be clawing back the additional money you promised for student
financial assistance. In effect, you are giving with one hand and taking
with the other.
You promised Ontario families that you would do things differently than the
previous governments that let tuition fees increase year after year. If you
proceed with this plan, you will be letting down Ontario students and their
families.
I urge you to abandon your plan to increase tuition fees.
Sincerely,
(insert name here)
today i got two responses...they read as follows
response one from Chris Bentley:
Hi:
Thank you for your email. I appreciate the opportunity to respond.
We have taken a different approach than either the Tories or the NDP.
They allowed tuition to increase dramatically, but did not increase
student aid to keep pace and did not invest as they should have to
improve the quality of education.
Here is our approach. The McGuinty government is spending an additional
$6.2 billion dollars over the next 5 years to improve access and the
quality of student education. The people of Ontario are investing $3
for every dollar students will be asked to contribute. By contrast,
the Tories took our 15 cents for every extra dollar students
contributed, and the NDP put in 90 cents for every extra student dollar.
We have dramatically improved student aid. More students, are getting
more aid, and more of it is in grants. For example, there will be
120,000 students receiving grants of some sort this fall from the
Ontario Government. The OSAP allowances for books and materials, which
had not been updated since the 1980's, are being dramatically improved.
We are also providing the Student Access Guarantee: Every qualified
student with financial need will get access to the resources they need
for tuition, books and mandatory fees. We will integrate the government
and institutional aid systems so that students do not get left out.
Finally, we are setting up the Higher Education Quality Council, and
three year accountability agreements, to make sure that the extra funds
result in improved quality of education.
To put the tuition framework in context: 90% of college students will
see an increase of no more than $100, and 70% of university students
will see an increase of no more than $200. Most programs, in first
year, can increase no more than 4.5%, and 4% second and subsequent
years. High cost and professional and graduate programs can go up
maximum 8% first year, 4% second and subsequent years. The
institutional average cannot be more than 5%. The institutions, not the
government, will decide whether to use the maximums or not.
No institution can increase its fees unless they participate in the
Student Access Guarantee, and the increases improve the quality of
education for the students.
Thank you again for writing.
Chris Bentley
response two from Joe Tascona...well..technically.
Hello
MPP Joe Tascona has received your emailed message and advises that he is in
support of a freeze on tuition fees.
Linda
Constituency Assistant for
MPP Joe Tascona, Barrie Simcoe Bradford
I can't say i'm terribly impressed with either. Time to draft a new letter.
i don't like this whole end the tuition freeze business...hell..i don't like having to pay tuition in the first place...so i found this fun form letter at the canadian federation of students website...and i altered it as is often my wont...
you can read it here
March 10 2006
Dear Premier McGuinty,
I am calling on you to immediately reconsider your plan to increase tuition
fees for college and university students in Ontario. Tuition fees have
tripled in the last 15 years and I am shocked and disappointed that your
government is moving to increase fees again.
By raising tuition fees you will create more hardship for Ontario students
and families, as greater numbers of students are forced to borrow larger
amounts of money, work more jobs or consider quitting school altogether.
As a student I currently work 3 jobs that as per usual pay marginally more
than minimum wage. If you raise tuition fees I will not be able to afford to
pay rent unless I begin working in a far more profitable industry, either
phone sex or prostitution. This is what you are driving students to sir. I
hope its not what you intend. (this paragraph is mine. the rest is standard form letter. we know i like to be overly dramatic to prove my point sometimes...ok...all the time.)
You will be clawing back the additional money you promised for student
financial assistance. In effect, you are giving with one hand and taking
with the other.
You promised Ontario families that you would do things differently than the
previous governments that let tuition fees increase year after year. If you
proceed with this plan, you will be letting down Ontario students and their
families.
I urge you to abandon your plan to increase tuition fees.
Sincerely,
(insert name here)
today i got two responses...they read as follows
response one from Chris Bentley:
Hi:
Thank you for your email. I appreciate the opportunity to respond.
We have taken a different approach than either the Tories or the NDP.
They allowed tuition to increase dramatically, but did not increase
student aid to keep pace and did not invest as they should have to
improve the quality of education.
Here is our approach. The McGuinty government is spending an additional
$6.2 billion dollars over the next 5 years to improve access and the
quality of student education. The people of Ontario are investing $3
for every dollar students will be asked to contribute. By contrast,
the Tories took our 15 cents for every extra dollar students
contributed, and the NDP put in 90 cents for every extra student dollar.
We have dramatically improved student aid. More students, are getting
more aid, and more of it is in grants. For example, there will be
120,000 students receiving grants of some sort this fall from the
Ontario Government. The OSAP allowances for books and materials, which
had not been updated since the 1980's, are being dramatically improved.
We are also providing the Student Access Guarantee: Every qualified
student with financial need will get access to the resources they need
for tuition, books and mandatory fees. We will integrate the government
and institutional aid systems so that students do not get left out.
Finally, we are setting up the Higher Education Quality Council, and
three year accountability agreements, to make sure that the extra funds
result in improved quality of education.
To put the tuition framework in context: 90% of college students will
see an increase of no more than $100, and 70% of university students
will see an increase of no more than $200. Most programs, in first
year, can increase no more than 4.5%, and 4% second and subsequent
years. High cost and professional and graduate programs can go up
maximum 8% first year, 4% second and subsequent years. The
institutional average cannot be more than 5%. The institutions, not the
government, will decide whether to use the maximums or not.
No institution can increase its fees unless they participate in the
Student Access Guarantee, and the increases improve the quality of
education for the students.
Thank you again for writing.
Chris Bentley
response two from Joe Tascona...well..technically.
Hello
MPP Joe Tascona has received your emailed message and advises that he is in
support of a freeze on tuition fees.
Linda
Constituency Assistant for
MPP Joe Tascona, Barrie Simcoe Bradford
I can't say i'm terribly impressed with either. Time to draft a new letter.