A Windsor man has started a petition asking Premier Kathleen Wynne to forgive loans for post-secondary students from low-income families.
“With the average tuition cost for Ontario universities hovering around $7,500 per semester, many students are graduating with student debts in excess of $25,000,” writes Ahmad Moussaoui, in his letter to Wynne.
While the Ontario budget last week delivered news that students from low-income families will receive free tuition at post-secondary schools, it offered nothing to existing students.
"You can't help but feel a sense of betrayal by your government and feeling left out,” Moussaoui says.
That disappointment triggered his petition.
He says he isn’t looking for free education, just help.
Within a week, Moussaoui has received a tremendous amount of support, already gathering 53,000 supporters for his petition.
He says many have left personal messages sharing their experience battling debt.
"I read all 50,000 comments and it's heartbreaking, but it's comforting at the same time knowing that you're not alone in this.”
Aysenur Akatas was touring the University of Windsor campus Saturday and she expects to pay $13,000 in tuition per year for the engineering program she’s been accepted into.
"That's something I know I can't get on my own just by working at McDonalds,” she says.
On top of that, there is housing, food and books.
"In four years when I'm out of here, I'm going to be in debt - just swimming in debt.”
Moussaoui says he will be holding a meeting at the university next week to plan the next steps.
