A postsecondary education is within reach for more Ontarians thanks to recent changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), Chris Bentley, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, said today.

"We're on the side of hard working families who want their children to have more opportunity to pursue a postsecondary education," said Bentley. "A college or university education opens doors to a brighter, more prosperous future and that is why we are giving more young people the opportunity to achieve their goals."

Starting today, ads informing the public about enhancements to OSAP will air on television throughout Ontario until June 25 and print ads will appear in English and French community papers and in 67 ethnic language publications.

Ontarians interested in more information about student financial assistance will be encouraged to log onto www.ontario.ca/newOSAP to learn about the benefits of a postsecondary education, improvements to OSAP, as well as other sources of financial aid for postsecondary students.

Starting in 2004-05, the Ontario government has made a series of improvements to student aid. Students from middle-income families who were previously ineligible for student aid can now qualify for thousands of dollars of assistance and more student aid is being provided through up-front grants for tuition.

Through the Reaching Higher Plan, which was unveiled in the 2005 Budget, the government will invest $6.2 billion more to improve the quality and accessibility of postsecondary education and training over the next five years. This includes $1.5 billion for student financial aid.

Providing more access to a postsecondary education is the latest way the McGuinty government is working to provide opportunity for Ontario's students. These initiatives include:

- Creating 75,000 more spaces in postsecondary education for qualified

students

- Capping average tuition increases to $100 for around 90 per cent of

college students and $200 for about 70 per cent of university students

- Bringing back grants for students who need help the most, benefiting

60,000 students this coming year.

"Our government is making a historic investment to increase access for students and support the government's priorities for economic growth and prosperity," said Bentley. "Higher education helps us achieve these goals by providing the skilled workforce needed to help us compete and grow in our global economy."

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Backgrounder

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GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES AD CAMPAIGN ABOUT OSAP

The McGuinty government has launched a television and print ad campaign to encourage families to learn more about enhancements to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). The text of the advertising tells viewers and readers:

Television script

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"Sometimes it takes more than hard work to reach college or university. That's why Ontario is helping more students aim higher by introducing grants and doubling its investment in student aid. Find out about the new OSAP. Ontario.ca/newOSAP"

Print Ad

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"The new OSAP is about possibilities. Grants and subsidized loans enable more Ontario students to invest in their postsecondary dreams.

A college or university education opens doors to a brighter, more prosperous future. And the Ontario Student Assistance Program can help make it possible. Ontario is introducing grants and doubling its overall investment in student aid. For the full story on the new OSAP - go online. Ontario.ca/newOSAP"

The launch of the advertising campaign helps to highlight a series of improvements made to student aid in recent years. The 2006-07 improvements will benefit about 145,000 college and university students from low- and middle-income families.

The government is doubling its investment in student aid by 2009-10 so families can afford higher education. Improvements mean that students can get more aid in the coming year, but their OSAP debt continues to be limited to $7,000 per completed year through the Ontario Student Opportunity Grant.

Improvements to OSAP include:

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In 2005-06, up-front grants were re-introduced to the OSAP program for the first time since 1992-93. These grants, known as Access Grants, will help 33,000 low-income first and second year students to access postsecondary programs.

In 2006-07, the government will be extending eligibility for Access Grants to include students from families earning up to about $75,000 per year - roughly the average income for Ontario families.

Students from the lowest-income families who face the biggest access barriers will still get the highest grants. Access Grants can cover up to half the cost of tuition for students from low-income families (with incomes less than $36,440). If they are in their first year of postsecondary education, these students can also qualify for matching federal grants, covering up to the full cost of their tuition through the combined grants.

Students whose parents earn more - between $36,440 and $75,000 per year - will now be able to get grants covering between 25 and 50 percent of the cost of their tuition. The percentage covered depends on how much their parents earn. The expansion of the Access Grants to middle-income families is expected to result in 27,000 more students being approved for grants in 2006-07. A total of 60,000 students will receive these grants.

For 2006-07, book and supply allowances will be updated. These costs had been frozen since the mid-1980s.

In 2005-06, the government increased maximum assistance levels so that single students are eligible for as much as $2,550 more in student aid - a 27 per cent increase. This was the first increase in student loan maximums in over a decade.

In 2005-06, the government reduced the amount of financial support middle-income parents are expected to contribute to their children's education. For example, a family of four, earning $70,000 with one child in university is saving about $2,000 - a 50 per cent reduction compared to what they were expected to contribute in 2004-05.

Disponible en français

www.edu.gov.on.ca

www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca

For further information: Sheamus Murphy, Minister's Office, (416) 325-7215; Tanya Blazina, Communications Branch, (416) 325-2746; Public Inquiries: (416) 325-2929 or 1-800-387-5514, TTY: 1-800-263-2892

Source: newswire