By MPP Bobbi Ann Brady
As I mentioned in my column last week, education is foundational for our youth as they work toward future success. Post‑secondary education in Ontario is essential to strengthening our labour force and driving economic growth, equipping students with the skills, innovation capacity, and credentials needed to meet evolving industry demands and compete in a global economy.
On February 12, 2026, the Ford government announced updated tuition and Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) framework, saying the changes would “ensure sustainability for institutions while keeping education accessible.” Unfortunately, that is not how I see these changes impacting our young bright minds of this province. This new model has been packaged to sound like an investment in the sector, but many can see it for what it truly is.
At a time when we are already failing our young people, the new OSAP changes and the removal of the tuition cap create yet another barrier, making education more expensive and harder to access. By capping the grant portion of OSAP from 75 per cent to 25 per cent, students will graduate with significantly higher debt, just as they enter an increasingly volatile and rapidly evolving job market. Premier Ford’s remarks suggesting misuse of OSAP funds are insulting to the many students who already struggle with the anxiety of studies and finances.
These changes also coincide with the end of the tuition freeze that has been in place since 2019, allowing institutions to increase tuition by up to two per cent each year. While this may amount to only an estimated $0.18 to $0.47 a day on average, when combined with the OSAP overhaul, the long‑term impact on student debt will be substantial.
To be fair, multiple post‑secondary institutions noted during pre‑budget consultations that many are struggling to stay afloat, and lifting the freeze may help keep their doors open. But we must ask, at what cost?
For years, domestic students have been sidelined in favor of higher‑paying international students. Now, with new limits on international enrollment, the Ford government expects domestic students to fill the resulting financial gaps. Rather than addressing long‑standing concerns about inflated international enrollment long ago, the burden is now being placed directly on our kids here in Ontario. As the University of Ottawa Students’ Union writes, “It’s not the responsibility of students to pay off the governments’ financial mismanagement.”
Given rising tuition fees and the current economic climate in Ontario, one would expect the government to support students in accessing higher education. Instead, changes to the OSAP framework reinforce the view that post‑secondary education is being treated more like a business than a public good.
These changes were made unilaterally, without a vote or the oversight of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It is unacceptable that such significant policy decisions were implemented while MPPs were away from Queen’s Park. Although the Ontario Legislature does not reconvene until March 23rd, I assure you that the Opposition will bring this issue to the forefront once the session begins. I will continue to advocate for our young people and fight for a future where quality education remains accessible to everyone.
With labour gaps across virtually every sector in Ontario – from healthcare and skilled trades to agriculture, manufacturing and tech – this is precisely the moment to be investing in young people, not increasing the barriers in front of them. Jeopardizing the future of students jeopardizes the future for us all.
Bobbi Ann Brady is the MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk