Hundreds of students are expected to gather outside Queen’s Park Wednesday to protest the Ontario government’s changes to its student loan program.
Carrying placards and cheering “hands off our education,” students began gathering outside the legislature in the late morning. Some also chanted “no cuts, no fees” and “free education now,” voicing anger over recent changes to the Ontario Student Assistance program (OSAP).
“The Ford government’s decision to open the floodgates to tuition increases and the decimation of OSAP will destroy what’s left of education in Ontario,” the the Central Student Association – one of the groups protesting the changes – said on its website.
Student protest Students hold a protest at Queen’s park over OSAP changes Wednesday March 4, 2026. (Joshua Freeman /CP24)
The provincial government announced several weeks ago that it was boosting funding to colleges and universities by billions of dollars while also lifting a tuition freeze that had been in place for seven years and slashing grants offered through OSAP.
The move will mean the proportion of student assistance given as grants will shift from 85 per cent to 25 per cent, with the rest being given as loans.
Critics have said the move will mean it is effectively harder for many students to fund their educations.
Separately Wednesday, some students in York Region were planning a walkout from classrooms to protest the government’s cuts to OSAP. Students in Durham Region held a walkout over OSAP cuts on Tuesday.
With files from The Canadian Press
Student protests Students hold a protest at Queen’s park over OSAP changes Wednesday March 4, 2026.
