TORONTO – Ontario Premier Doug Ford has sparked debate after announcing university tuition increases and cuts to OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program) grants, which help students pay for college and university. He also advised students to avoid “basket-weaving courses” and focus on programs that lead to high-demand jobs, such as healthcare or STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). 

Ford said he received thousands of calls from students concerned about the cuts, which are substantial: starting this fall, the maximum OSAP grant will drop from 85% to 25%, leaving students worried about taking on more debt after graduation.

“I told students they need to invest in their future, in in-demand jobs,” Ford said at a press briefing at Queen’s Park. “You’re choosing basket-weaving courses, and there aren’t that many baskets being sold out there.”

The premier stressed that taxpayers want assurance that the courses students choose—and that are largely publicly funded—lead to real jobs in the province. He highlighted healthcare, skilled trades, and STEM fields as areas with strong employment opportunities.

Ford also noted that, while students may be “probably upset right now,” he had heard stories of OSAP funds being misused for “expensive watches and cologne,” emphasizing the need for accountability.

His comments drew criticism from students, many pointing out that the most in-demand programs, such as medicine, are also the most expensive, with annual tuition exceeding $20,000, which could further increase student debt.

Ford defended the measures, saying tuition increases and grant reductions were necessary to maintain the financial sustainability of Ontario’s colleges and universities. Institutions have faced revenue shortfalls due to caps on international student enrollment and cuts in federal funding. “It’s not sustainable to keep tuition frozen; many universities were at risk of closing,” he said, adding that he had fought for years to maintain the freeze and had initially cut tuition by 10% at the start of his term.

As costs soar and aid drops, the question for Ontario students is simple: invest in your future—or pay the price later.

In the pic above: Ontario Premier Doug Ford (photo from Twitter X – @fordnation)