Need or Greed

#NeedOrGreed Week 2 Update

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?