2015 Ontario Budget

May Conference

2015 Budget OverviewPSE Highlights

Removal of the student-owned vehicle asset exemption from OSAP’s needs assessment

Additional $5 million through the Postsecondary Education Fund for Aboriginal Learners (PEFAL)

Removal of the in-study income from OSAP’s assessment

Decoupling of Grants and Loans

Student-owned vehicle asset exemption

• History– Aug 2014 – Presidents’ Workshop– Nov 2014 – Advocacy Workshop– Jan 2015 – CSA’s Pre-Budget Submission– Apr 2015 – Removal from OSAP assessment

• Impacts over 7,300 Ontario College Students

• Will provide up to $22 million in additional OSAP funds for students

Additional funds for Aboriginal Students

• History– 2011 – Aboriginal Education and Training Policy Framework

• Provide multi-year funding for aboriginal learners• Creation of Postsecondary Education Fund for Aboriginal Learners

– 2015 – CSA’s Pre-Budget Submission– 2015 – Additional funding for Aboriginal Students

• Providing an additional $5 million

• CSA’s pre-budget asked for between $1.6 - $6.6 million

In-Study Income

• History– 2010 - $100/week of study– 2011 - Indexed to inflation– 2014-15 - $113.00/week of study

• Money students earn while employed during the semester will not negatively impact their OSAP

• $50/week of scholarship is allowed (max. $1750)

Grants and Loans

• OSAP– Combination of Grants and Loans• Loans – Students pay the money back to the government• Grants – Students do not pay the money back

• Decoupling– Students can now:• Take loans and grants from the government; OR• Take just loans from the government; OR• Take just grants from the government

PSE 2015 Ontario Budget• Indexing the Ontario maximum student aid levels annually to inflation

• Launching the Ontario Student Loan Rehabilitation Program

• Indexing and increasing the debt cap at no more than $7,400

• Ontario student loan limit increases to $155 per week for single students and $355per week for students who are married or have dependent children

• $250 million over two years – reinvesting in the Ontario Youth Jobs Strategy (YTD - $565 million)

• $55 million into the Skilled Trades– Investing an additional $13 million over two years for pre-apprenticeship programs;– Providing $19 million over three years to increase the per diem for apprenticeship classroom

training; and– Investing an additional $23 million over two years in the Apprenticeship Enhancement Fund

Budget Media• Facebook

– Reach 7559– Likes (includes likes on shares) 160– Comments (includes comments on shares) 30– Shares (includes shares on shares) 35

• Twitter– Impressions 7861– Retweets 61– Favourites 22

• News Stories– Toronto Sun | Craig Glover | Budget Reviews Are In– Peterborough Examiner | Antonella Artuso | Ontario Budgets $130B for Infrastructure Spending– Toronto Star | Rob Ferguson | Ontario budget tables changes for OSAP

2015 Federal Budget

PSE 2015 Federal Budget• Eliminating in-study income, ensuring that students are not penalized for earning

an income while in school

• Expanding the eligibility of Canada Student Grants, allowing students in shorter programs access to non-repayable aid

• The launch of a labour market information portal. Helping students make informed decisions about their future educational and career paths

• Amending the Canada Labour Code to protect interns with even the most basic health and safety standards

• Renewing the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s mandate for another ten years

• Reducing expected parental contribution

Matt Caron Director of Advocacy

advocacy@collegestudentalliance.ca416-951-0181

www.collegestudentalliance.ca416-340-1212

@CSA_ON

QUESTIONS?