Hudak would end support for students from low income families with attack on 30% tuition rebate

Tim Hudak rolled out his latest double down on right-wing policy, announcing he would end the 30% tuition rebate for Ontario post-secondary students.

Hudak and his post-secondary education critic, Rob Leone framed the tuition cut as not helping mature students or single parents (ironic, given the not so high regard single mothers have been held in historically by conservatives).

They also seem to want to restrict the way students could use the use any financial assistance they would receive:

"The Tories say student aid should be given to students who are getting good marks and can show they're using the money to improve their education."


What does "improve their education" mean, exactly? I, like many other students, used my 30% off tuition rebate to help pay the rent on my apartment, would Hudak force students like me to spend it on textbooks I could check out of the library and worry about a place to live?

The idea of tying student aid to performance seems attractive on the surface, but is in fact highly problematic and regressive. Under Hudak, would a student from a low-income New Canadian family, perhaps the first in her family to attend a post-secondary institution with a B average receive less financial support than a student from a high-income family with who had an A average? If a student from a low income family in first year university was finding the transition to university difficult to deal with, and their marks were lower than expected be cut off from financial aid, thus dramatically increasing the risk of this student dropping out? If a student were struggling with depression or another mental health issues and it affected his or her grades, would Hudak slash aid for this student?

The 30% tuition cut was designed specifically for full time undergrad students from low income families to help ease the financial burden of post-secondary education. It helped me and students across Ontario like me to focus on education and preparing ourselves for the global economy. Any move away from a system in which income is the main qualifier for student aid is deeply regressive and shows how out of touch Tim Hudak is with working families, students, and youth across Ontario.

Your new Ontario cabinet, and some facts and firsts

Excited to see the new cabinet sworn in today. In particular, I'm very happy to see Charles Sousa and Yasir Naqvi as Finance and Labour Minister respectively. I started this blog in 2007 in large part to help support the local campaigns in Mississauga South and Ottawa Centre, so seeing them both in cabinet is fantastic.

Here is the new cabinet of Ontario:

Kathleen Wynne-Premier of Ontario, Minister of Agriculture
Deb Matthews-Deputy Premier of Ontario, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
Jim Bradley-Minister of the Environment 

John Gerretsen-Attorney General of Ontario
Michael Gravelle-Minister of Northern Development and Mines 

Ted McMeekin-Minister of Community and Social Services 

Laurel Broten-Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister responsible for Women's Issues
Brad Duguid-Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities
Linda Jeffrey-Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Chair of Cabinet

Jeff Leal-Minister of Rural Affairs
Madeleine Meilleur-Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs
David Orazietti-Minister of Natural Resources
Liz Sandals-Minister of Education
Harinder Takhar-Minister of Government Services, Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet

David Zimmer-Minister of Aboriginal Affairs
Michael Chan-Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Minister responsible for the 2015 Pan and Para Pan American Games
Reza Moridi-Minister of Research and Innovation
Yasir Naqvi-Minister of Labour
Charles Sousa-Minister of Finance
Eric Hoskins-Minister of Economic Development, Trade & Employment 

Glen Murray-Minister of Transportation, Minister of Infrastructure

Bob Chiarelli-Minister of Energy
Michael Coteau-Citizenship and Immigration 

Tracy MacCharles-Minister of Consumer Services
Teresa Piruzza-Minister of Children and Youth Services
Mario Sergio-Minister responsible for Seniors
John Milloy-Government House Leader
And some facts and firsts:   As well noted, Wynne is Ontario's first female premier, and the first openly LGBT Premier/non municipal head of government in North America and the Commonwealth   Reza Moridi is the first Iranian-Canadian provincial cabinet minister in Canada   Women control the Premiership, the Deputy Premiership, and the ministries of Health, Education, Intergovernmental Affairs, Municipal Affairs and Housing, Community Safety and Correctional Services, Francophone Affairs, Consumer Services, and Children and Youth Services   9 members will be new to cabinet, with 3 being elected in the 2011 election. On the flip side, Mario Sergio was first elected in 1995.   Madeleine Meilleur in Francophone Affairs is the only Minister to have held the same portfolio from 2003 on.   I've personally volunteered on election campaigns for Meilleur, Hoskins, Sousa, Naqvi, Murray and Chiarelli.

Check out my new tumblr for all my political graphic design projects!

http://williamnorman88.tumblr.com/

Featuring graphic design projects done for the Charles Sousa leadership campaign, Anita Vandenbeld's campaign for Ottawa West-Nepean, various Young Liberal clubs, and more. I'll be updating it from time to time as well.

Mississauga News endorses Charles Sousa for Ontario Liberal Leader, says his private sector experience is "invaluable"

Like the Sousa campaign on Facebook!
Follow Charles on Twitter!
Follow the Sousa campaign on Twitter!

A great endorsement from the major paper of Ontario's third largest city!

It’s time to put Charles in charge.

We endorse Sousa, the 54-year-old MPP for Mississauga South who has held three Cabinet posts since first being elected in 2007. He has a 20-year background in banking that could prove invaluable in dealing with Ontario’s financial challenges.

Read more here!

Youth support from across Ontario for Charles Sousa!

Like the Sousa campaign on Facebook!
Follow Charles on Twitter!

I remember when I first started volunteering for Charles Sousa back in 2007. Charles had just been nominated as the Liberal candidate for the fall general election, following the departure of Tim Peterson from the Liberal caucus. Charles was a first time candidate running in a riding which had never voted Liberal provincially before 2003 against an incumbent the PC's were treating as a star candidate. I've seen as Charles' campaign has grown from his kitchen table and the back of his van to a province wide effort, and that's why I'm so proud to stand with Young Liberals from across Ontario who Charles has inspired to get involved.

Below is the release on Charles' youth support. I encourage you to share it across Twitter and Facebook if you support Charles.

http://www.votesousa.ca/youth-support

In the week leading up to the Ontario Liberal Party’s Leadership Convention on January 25^th, Sousa’s campaign continues to build with Sousa’s message of real renewal which has been resonating with youth from across the province.

“I am very grateful to have the support of so many engaged young people”, said Sousa. “Their enthusiasm and commitment to our party and our province is vital and extremely encouraging. Without them, there is no real renewal.”

With the opposition raising the spectre of another provincial election so soon after the last one, Sousa’s ability to lead the party is top of mind for many Liberals.

“Charles is a man I can see as Premier of Ontario, and someone I can see standing up there, defending our record against Horwath and Hudak. I think he is the right choice for these times and I am proud to support him,” said Roy Sengupta, Member of the Ottawa Centre Provincial Liberal Association.

His focus on creating jobs and growing the economy is resonating strongly with many students and recent graduates.

“Charles is running to be Ontario’s “Jobs Premier” and his plan to create and save jobs will greatly benefit recent university and college graduates like me,” said Tyler Anderson, studying at York University.

“He had me at ‘Jobs’,” added Abdullah Sherif, a Young Liberal from Scarborough Centre.

For others, it’s his social conscience and work at the community level that convinced them that Sousa is the right candidate for Premier.

“Charles inspires me to be a better person and to continue to get involved within the community. His loyalty to the people and his dedication to make a difference is why I have chosen to support him,” said Jessica Cabral, a Young Liberal from Mississauga-Brampton South.

Warren Bradley Clarke, VP Federal of the UTM Liberals said “Charles is the answer. His devotion, kind heart and strength are what distinguish him from the rest. ”

All agree that his leadership style and open, honest and inclusive campaign were key in their decision to support Sousa.

“I’ve been deeply impressed with the ideas-oriented and forward-looking campaign Charles has run. As a lifelong Mississauga resident I know how hard Charles has worked to represent his community and know that the whole province will benefit from his enthusiasm and determination,” said Kevin Draper, VP of the Mississauga East-Cooksville Federal Liberal Association and Director of the Trinity-Spadina Provincial Liberal Association.

“Charles is a great listener and great leader. I have complete confidence in his abilities to put this province on the track to great success,” said Brian Santos, Past President of the Cambridge Young Liberals.

Many of today’s endorsements come from delegates to the Ontario Liberal Party’s upcoming leadership convention in Toronto on the weekend of the 25^th-27^th.

Sousa is running to be Ontario’s Jobs Premier and has proposed several concrete steps we can take to create jobs now. For more information about his plan or to contact his campaign, visit www.votesousa.ca.

Vote for a jobs Premier, vote for Charles Sousa at your LEM today!

He's proven he can win. He has the business experience and financial acumen Ontario families trust. He's put forward bold ideas for renewing our party and growing the economy.

But he can't do it without you.

If you're an Ontario Liberal Party member and live in Easter, Central, or Northern Ontario, you need to get out to vote today! Here is a list of ridings and clubs that will hold LEMs today, and if you aren't sure where to vote, check out http://www.votesousa.ca/lem

EASTERN


Carleton-Mississippi Mills

Glengarry-Prescott-Russell

Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock

Kingston and the Islands

Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington

Leeds-Grenville

Nepean-Carleton

Northumberland-Quinte West

Ottawa Centre

Ottawa South

Ottawa West-Nepean

Ottawa-Orleans

Ottawa-Vanier

Peterborough

Prince Edward-Hastings

Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke

Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry

Nepean Women's Club

Ottawa-Orleans Women's Club

Carelton University Student Club

Queen's University Student Club

University of Ottawa Student Club



CENTRAL

Ajax-Pickering

Barrie

Bramalea-Gore-Malton

Brampton West

Brampton-Springdale

Dufferin-Caledon

Durham

Halton

Markham-Unionville

Mississauga East-Cooksville

Mississauga South

Mississauga-Brampton South

Mississauga-Erindale

Mississauga-Streetsville

Newmarket-Aurora

Oak Ridges-Markham

Oakville

Oshawa

Richmond Hill

Simcoe North

Simcoe-Grey

Thornhill

Vaughan

Whitby-Oshawa

York-Simcoe

Southern York Region Women's Club

University of Toronto - Mississauga



NORTHERN

Algoma-Manitoulin

Kenora-Rainy River

Nickel Belt

Nipissing

Parry Sound-Muskoka

Sault Ste. Marie

Sudbury

Thunder Bay-Atikokan

Thunder Bay-Atikokan

Thunder Bay-Superior North

Timiskaming-Cochrane

Timiskaming-Cochrane

Timmins-James Bay

Thunder Bay Area Women's Club

Laurentian University Student Club

Nippissing University Student Club

Charles Sousa Tele-Town Hall tonight!

Ring in the New Year by joining thousands of fellow Liberals for a Tele-Town Hall with Charles Sousa! Charles wants to hear what you have to say about the important issues facing Ontario and how we can best renew our province and our party. If you don't get a call from the campaign, you can phone 1-877-229-8493 and dial in 111348.

Hope you hear you on the call!