Need or Greed

News

NeedOrGreed Updates: Pre-Budget Submission

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What’s new for #NeedOrGreed?

Though our campaign has concluded, we are still advocating for international students and tuition equity! As part of this process, we submitted a pre-budget submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.

This year, our budget submission recommends increasing post-secondary core funding and indexing it to inflation, implementing an international tuition freeze, expanding the regulatory framework to cap international tuition fee increases to the same rate as domestic students, eliminating the International Student Recovery Fee, and more.

Want to learn more about our suggestions? Take a look at our pre-budget submission below!

View our pre-budget submission

NeedOrGreed FAQ

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We’ve received some frequently asked questions and wanted to share them for everyone in case you have the same question too!

Even before arriving in Canada, international students are not given an accurate estimation of education and the cost-of-living in Canada. In order to study in Canada, international students must prove they can afford to study in Canada by paying for their first year of tuition, in addition to a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) of CAD $10 000. The amount of the GIC is outdated, and not representative of the cost-of-living and housing crisis in Ontario, and Canada generally.

Additionally, international tuition in Ontario is unpredictable and can be raised by 20% per year. When taken together, how can one budget for a cost-of-living that is not clearly communicated while also affording tuition that can be radically different from year-to-year?

This is not true! In places like Germany, France, Norway, and Iceland, international tuition is offered at a low or no cost.

We decided to launch a provincial campaign rather than a federal campaign, because post-secondary education falls under provincial jurisdiction. That said, we want to see international tuition equity for all provinces and territories in Canada, not just Ontario! If you want to advocate for international tuition equity in your province or territory, please reach out and we will be happy to provide insight and support where we can.

Over the past 40 years, provincial and federal funding for post-secondary education has declined. While the government does subsidize domestic students, Ontario lags behind the rest of the country in terms of post-secondary education funding, and offers the least amount of funding per Full-Time Student out of every province and territory. According to Ontario’s Auditor General, international students make up 30% of the student body at Ontario colleges, but they provide 68% of tuition revenue. Their fees in 2019 amounted to $1.7 billion, more than what Ontario contributes through provincial grants. To make up for the defunding of the post-secondary sector, colleges are charging international students over and above the equivalent domestic tuition value when combined with domestic subsidies. Many institutions also charge international students higher tuition over and above the combined value of domestic tuition and government subsidies combined.

No. We are calling for greater regulation of international tuition, for international tuition fee increases to be capped at generally 3% — the same rate as domestic students –, and to scale international tuition to the subsidized value of domestic tuition through a multi-year, phased-in approach. For more information about our solutions, please consult our solutions document.

According to Ontario’s Auditor General, relying on international tuition to maintain college operations is an unsustainable and risky business model. As a result of actively defunding the post-secondary sector, colleges have moved to a profit-centric funding model. International student tuition continues to make up the bulk of Ontario college revenue in the absence of increases to core funding. Therefore, the government should increase core funding to Ontario colleges to compensate for the 20% loss in funding per student in real dollars since 1992 and index core funding to inflation.

If you have withdrawn from your program, please reach out to your college to request a refund.

Please consult our list of resources here: https://needorgreed.ca/college-and-community-wellness-supports/

Make sure to reach out to your institution to find additional available supports.

#NeedOrGreed Campaign Success Update

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Over the course of the past month, we have seen people come together to call for equitable treatment of international students and greater regulation of international tuition in colleges across Ontario. Post-secondary institutions are beginning to enter into conversations with their student associations about the campaign’s demands, and Centennial College has even publicly disclosed the difference in revenue between international and domestic students, demonstrating a win for transparency!

Some other highlights from the campaign as of December 21, 2022 include:

  • Over 20 Media Interviews
  • 1196 people sent letters to decision-makers
  • Over 70 student stories submitted
  • Over 4,900 people visited the #NeedOrGreed campaign website
  • The campaign’s social media had a reach of over 160,982
  • Over 150 people joined us at the Queen’s Park for our protest, including MPP Adil Shamji (Liberal Party Critic of Colleges and Universities)

While the awareness campaign has ended, our efforts will continue in the coming months. We will continue to push government and college decision-makers for meetings and continue to use other advocacy avenues to help bring positive long-term changes to international tuition in Ontario.

Thank you to everyone who has supported and continues to support the campaign. Together, we can all continue to call for change and be a united voice.

The Ontario College Student Associations for International Tuition Equity Coalition

#NeedOrGreed Week 2 Update

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As the second week of the #NeedOrGreed campaign comes to a close, we want to share some exciting highlights and updates with you!

During the second week, the campaign has seen:

  • Over 1000 letters sent by students and allies to decision makers;
  • Media attention from news outlets from across Ontario;
  • International students are continuing to submit stories, sharing their experiences and the impact of international student tuition fees have on their daily lives;
  • Centennial College is planning to introduce a website as a response to the campaign, where they will introduce transparent reporting of tuition revenue and the allocation of surpluses;
  • Minister Jill Dunlop, the Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities, and Linda Franklin, the President and CEO of Ontario Colleges, have yet to respond to our multiple requests for a meeting;
  • Conversations remain in progress with college decision makers; and
  • Thousands of likes, comments, shares, and more on social media!

International Tuition Equity Protest

On November 17, 2022, we held our protest for international tuition equity at Queen’s Park. Students from across Ontario braved the cold to stand in solidarity and demand equitable tuition for the over 50,000 international students we represent. We also received an outpouring of community support and want to thank all the allies who were able to join us at Queen’s Park.

We would like to extend a special thank you to Sarom Rho and the Migrant Worker’s Alliance for Change for their ongoing support of the #NeedOrGreed campaign, and for speaking at the protest. The Migrant Worker’s Alliance for Change is a members-led organization of migrant farmworkers, care workers, students and more who advocate for worker’s rights and immigration justice.

Sarom Rho leads Migrant Students United, which is a group of current and former international students who are uniting across Canada to win fair rules, equal rights, dignity and respect at work and school, and permanent resident status for all. For more information about Migrant Students United, and to show your support for the Fairness Agenda for Migrant Students, please visit their website: MigrantStudentsUnited.ca 

We would also like to thank MPP Adil Shamji, the Critic of Colleges and Universities for the Ontario Liberal Party, for his support and presence at the rally for international tuition equity.

What’s Next?

Thank you to everyone who was present at the protest! If you were unable to attend, thank you for supporting us on social media and through letter writing! Though our protest is complete, there’s still much more work to do. We must keep working and advocating together to keep the conversation going, and make equitable tuition a reality. So, what can you do to continue supporting the campaign?

This International Students Day, Ontario students are standing up for their international peers

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International students at Ontario colleges are paying on average over 4x what locals pay, with no tuition freezes available

ONTARIO, Nov. 17, 2022 – Nine days into a campaign to highlight unfairness facing international students at Ontario colleges, a coalition of students is celebrating International Students Day (November 17th).

The date has origins in World War II, commemorating the bravery and memory of students in Prague who fought for their right to higher education when Czech universities were stormed by the Nazis in 1939. Today, International Students Day is a date post-secondary institutions use to celebrate their international students and as an observance for student activism.

“What we’re seeing in Ontario is a largely economic injustice, but we would be remiss to point out that systemic practices like this are rooted in xenophobia and racism,” said Conestoga Students Inc. President, Sana Banu.

Banu is speaking as a member of the Ontario College Student Associations for International Tuition Equity Coalition, as well as a former international student herself. 

“I know firsthand the challenges of being an international student here in Ontario—from looking for housing, getting to know an unfamiliar city, and navigating it all without your community or network around for support. We need to remember the human side to international students and not simply look to them as a resource.”

“This isn’t a unique situation to Sana, as I hear many of the same sentiments from students too, and as a domestic student, I cannot imagine having these additional barriers added to the student experience,” said Centennial College Student Association President, Tima Shah. 

“The financial dependency of Ontario’s public college system on international students is unsustainable, inequitable, and irresponsible. The exploitation of international students cannot continue.”

With the Ontario Auditor General’s report noting that the public college sector’s $1.22 billion (or 62% increase) in its accumulated surplus from 2016/17 to 2019/20 was largely due to international student growth, the Coalition is questioning the motives behind the costs to international students with it’s aptly named “Need or Greed” campaign. 

Across the province, international students pay higher tuition than their domestic peers, who themselves pay high tuition fees relative to the rest of the country. According to Ontario’s Auditor General, international students enrolled in Ontario colleges pay $14,306 on average, compared to $3,228 per domestic student. Additionally, while making up only 30 per cent of the student body across the province’s 24 colleges, international students provide 68 per cent of tuition revenue. Their fees alone were worth $1.7-billion last year, more than colleges received in provincial grants.

The coalition is calling for an immediate tuition freeze for international students (which domestic students already received) and other measures. 

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For more information on #NeedOrGreed, email info@needorgreed.ca.

About the Coalition: Led by the Ontario College Student Associations for International Tuition Equity Coalition, #NeedOrGreed is comprised of provincial wide student associations including Cambrian Students Council, Centennial College Student Association Incorporated, Conestoga Students Inc., IGNITE, Mohawk Students’ Association, Sheridan Student Union, and more. This student association collective advocates for the interest of over 120,000 postsecondary students, of which over 50,000 are international. 

#NeedOrGreed Week 1 Update

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Since the launch of the #NeedOrGreed campaign on Tuesday, November 8, we have seen so much support pouring in from students and we wanted to share some exciting highlights from our first week! During the first week, the campaign has seen:

  • Over 900 letters sent by students and other supporters to decision-makers;
  • Media attention from news outlets across Ontario, including;
  • Many student stories submitted highlighting the stress and impact that international tuition fees are having on students;
  • Conversations are in progress with different college decision-makers and pending responses from Colleges Ontario and Minister Jill Dunlop for a meeting request; and
  • Thousands of likes, comments, shares, and more on social media!

What’s Next?

Thank you to everyone who has joined in on the conversation, but we must keep working and advocating together to bring awareness to the issues and demonstrate support for making international tuition more equitable! So what can you do to continue supporting the campaign?

Letters to Minister Dunlop and Colleges Ontario

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On Wednesday, November 9, The Ontario College Student Associations for International Tuition Equity Coalition sent letters to the Minister of Colleges and Universities, Jill Dunlop, and the President and CEO of Colleges Ontario, Linda Franklin.

In these two letters, the Coalition requested a meeting with decision-makers to share our proposed solutions to make international tuition more equitable. We look forward to their responses and continuing to advocate for more equitable international tuition for international students at Ontario colleges.

Letter to Minister Dunlop

Letter to Minister DunlopDownload

Letter to Linda Franklin

Letter to Linda FranklinDownload

Email Minister Dunlop and Linda Franklin

The Coalition cannot do this alone. We need you to advocate with us to see change! Send an email to decision-makers using our easy-to-use tool that takes under 1 minute.

SEND AN EMAIL NOW

College and Community Wellness Supports

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Experiencing an emergency or mental health crisis? Please call 911 or contact Here 24/7 Crisis Services at 1-844-437-3247.

Not in an emergency or mental health crisis, but needing someone to talk to, or experiencing stress, distress, or a crisis? Find the service or resource that fits best for you below.

College & Student Association Specific Wellness Support Resources

Cambrian College

Centennial College

Conestoga College

Humber College

Mohawk College

Sheridan College

Are specific supports not listed for your college? Try a support service or resource from our list of Community Wellness Supports and Resources or visit your college or student association’s website to learn what services they provide.

Community Wellness Supports and Resources

  • Good2Talk provides free and confidential support services for all Ontario post-secondary students, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
    Dial 1-866-925-5454 to talk, or text GOOD2TALKON to 686868 to access professional counselling and information and referrals for mental health, addictions and well-being.
  • Wellness Together Canada provides free online resources, tools, apps and connections to trained volunteers and qualified mental health professionals
  • Talk Suicide Canada Visit https://talksuicide.ca or Call 1-833-456-4566
    Talk Suicide Canada provides nationwide, 24-hour, bilingual support to anyone who is facing suicide.
  • 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Call 988
    When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary.
  • First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line: Call 1-855-242-3310
    The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate help to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. Service is available in Cree, Ojibway, Inuktitut, English and French.
  • Connex: Visit https://www.connexontario.ca/en-ca/ or Call 1-866 -531-2600
    ConnexOntario provides free and confidential health services information for people experiencing problems with alcohol and drugs, mental illness and/or gambling. We are funded by the Government of Ontario. Our system navigation and information service is live-answer 24/7, confidential, and free.
  • BounceBack
    BounceBack is a free skill-building program managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). It is designed to help adults and youth manage low mood, mild to moderate depression and anxiety, stress or worry. Delivered over the phone with a coach and through online videos, you will get access to tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness. 

Looking for additional resources and supports, visit https://www.ementalhealth.ca/ to find more.

Ontario Student Associations Unite for #NeedOrGreed and Fight for Equitable and Affordable Tuition for International Students

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Today, Student Associations from across Ontario come together to launch #NeedOrGreed, challenging government decision-makers and post-secondary institutions to recognize and mend their inequitable actions towards international students and ever-increasing tuition fees.

Across the province, international students pay higher tuition than their domestic peers, who themselves pay high tuition fees relative to the rest of the country. According to Ontario’s Auditor General, international students enrolled in Ontario colleges pay $14,306 on average, compared to $3,228 per domestic student. Additionally, while making up only 30 per cent of the student body across the province’s 24 colleges, international students provide 68 per cent of tuition revenue. Their fees alone were worth $1.7-billion last year, more than colleges received in provincial grants.

“International Students are tired of being treated like a bottomless pool to pad institutional budget lines, shouldering the weight of the government’s lack of funding. They deserve equity and certainty in their education,” says Sana Banu, Conestoga Students Inc. President and graduated international student. “These harmful and exploitive practices need to change. Why are yearly tuition increases generally limited to a max of 3 per cent for domestic students but up to 20 per cent for international students? Is this need or greed?”

As a movement for change, #NeedOrGreed is taking a series of actions, including:

  • Advocating for a tuition freeze that applies to international students;
  • Advocating for a commitment/limit to tuition increases for international students to 3 per cent, the same limit in place for domestic students;
  • Advocating for predictable tuition and financial certainty for future academic years by implementing cohort tuition pricing;
  • And other measures supportive of equitable international tuition.

On Thursday, November 17, 2022 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., students and allies will bring #NeedOrGreed to Queen’s Park for a peaceful protest, providing students a platform to advocate for themselves and make their voices heard at a provincial level alongside their student associations. Together, they will demand change to make education more affordable and predictable.

Led by the Ontario College Student Associations for International Tuition Equity Coalition, #NeedOrGreed is comprised of provincial wide student associations including Cambrian Students Council, Centennial College Student Association Incorporated, Conestoga Students Inc., IGNITE, Mohawk Students’ Association, Sheridan Student Union, and more. This student association collective advocates for the interest of over 120,000 postsecondary students, of which over 50,000 are international.

For more information on #NeedOrGreed contact:

Justin McLaughlin
Conestoga Students Inc.
Sr. Manager of Advocacy
jmclaughlin2@conestogac.on.ca

Melanie Extance
Mohawk Students’ Association
Governance and Advocacy Specialist
Melanie.extance@mohawkcollege.ca