PETITION TO STOP THE 2008-9 TUITION FEE HIKE AND IMPROVE ACCESS & QUALITY IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION


Whereas thousands of students in Toronto rallied on February 7, 2007 against fee increases and called for tuition fee reductions; and
Whereas in 2005-6 over 98\% of Students at the University of Toronto voted to freeze and reduce tuition fees; and
Whereas University of Toronto Students are members of the Canadian Federation of Students and support the progressive elimination of tuition fees; and
Whereas increasing tuition fees allow the Ontario Government to justify continued inadequate funding for Post Secondary Education; and
Whereas lower fees, as shown in Manitoba, Quebec and Newfoundland Labrador, improve access to education; and
Whereas improvements to student financial assistance are undermined by fee increases; and
Whereas the Ontario Governments recent increase to student loan limits is set to push student debt to approximately $28,000 for a four-year programme; and
Whereas tuition fees in Ontario have increased by more than 4 times the rate of inflation over the past 15 years; and
Whereas there are ZERO Tuition fees in the following countries and many others: Scotland, France, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Austria, Mexico, and Norway


WE THE UNDERSIGNED CALL ON THE GOVERNING COUNCIL TO STOP THE PROPOSED TUITION FEE INCREASES FOR 2008-9

The University of Toronto must stop lobbying for self-regulation (deregulation) of tuition fees
U of T should join students in demanding that Government funding be restored to appropriate levels
Governing Council must send a clear message to the Government to restore adequate levels of funding for education and to stop offloading the financial burden of education onto students