News

  • 'Drop the Fees' Rallies Mark Students' Day of Action

    On November 5, 2008, college and university students from across Canada marched to mark the Students' Day of Action 2008.

    The campaign, organized by the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), was especially active in Ontario. Thousands gathered there in 14 cities, including Toronto, Guelph, Kingston and Windsor. Speakers urged the provincial government to boost access to post-secondary education by simply dropping tuition fees.

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  • Student Aid Report Sees Progress – But Not in BC

     

    British Columbia is swimming against the tide when it comes to student financial aid. That is one of the findings of a report released October 22, 2008 by the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation.

    In general, the Foundation's report, Ten Things You Need to Know About Financial Support for Post-Secondary Students in Canada, paints a fairly positive picture of recent trends in Canada's student financial aid system.

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  • New Bankruptcy Rules Shorten Student Loan Wait

    Canadians overwhelmed by student loan debt have been granted a mild reprieve.

    On July 7, 2008, Minister of Labour Jean-Pierre Blackburn signed an Order-in-Council permitting automatic discharge for student loans in bankruptcy after seven years.

    An existing rule requiring a 10-year wait had been on the books since 1998 and had incurred charges of discrimination and a legal challenge.

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  • After Nova Scotia Students Vote with their Feet… the Deal Sweetens

    Nova Scotia launched a flurry of initiatives in 2008 to cut costs for post-secondary students.

    Announcements have included a three-year tuition freeze, a grant, bursary, increased graduate tax credit and a two-point cut in student loan interest rates.

    The changes followed media reports that Nova Scotia had been losing students due to high tuition fees. Years of rising costs have pushed Nova Scotia to the top in terms of tuition fees. The average cost of tuition in Nova Scotia now exceeds $5,800, according to Statistics Canada. Ontario ranks second.

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  • How Big is Canada's Student Debt Today?

    The Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) has something special on its website. A Canada Student Loan Debt clock lets you watch student debt adding up across the country. Tick-tick tick-tick tick-tick tick-tick tick-tick...

    It's mesmerizing, though not as soothing as a lava lamp...J

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