By Edward Lander

The Toronto Metropolitan Students’ Union (TMSU) is calling on students to join a Nov. 5 walkout against cuts to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), rising tuition and Bill 33.

The union announced the action in an Instagram post on Thursday, alongside the introduction of a webpage with information for students looking to participate.

According to the webpage, the walkout will see students gather at 1 p.m. at Gould Street and Victoria Street, Lake Devo

The protest is largely in response to sweeping changes to OSAP, specifically the reduction of the maximum amount of funding the program provides through non-repayable grants from 85 per cent to 25 per cent, which was announced in February.

Many students are already feeling the impact as the changes came into place this fall.

Cordelia So-Kew, faculty of community services director for the TMSU, said the union has seen the pressure of OSAP cuts firsthand, noting a sharp increase in demand for emergency student grants.

She said these pressures are what drew the union to host the protest.
“I think it is our job to advocate for students, and to show that we see what’s going [on] and that we are working for the students,” she said.

Teresa Baricevic, vice-president of education for TMSU, echoed that sentiment
“The student movement is already pretty big as it is, but we want our students to be a part of it,” she said.

The Nov. 5 walkout will not be the first protest over OSAP cuts attended by TMU students since the change.

The Canadian Federation of Students Ontario chapter (CFS–O) held two rallies outside Queen’s Park in March. Both saw high turnout, including from TMU students. One protest even saw two arrests.

TMSU’s walkout will be one of many at Ontario universities that day, as part of a province-wide ‘day of action’ led by CFS–O.

The walkout is being organized alongside the Toronto Metropolitan Association of Part-time Students, the Toronto Met Graduate Students’ Union and the Student Mobilization Committee.

Baricevic, who is TMSU’s representative on the university senate, said the union is looking to university administration to grant academic amnesty or accommodations for students who leave class to participate in the walkout.

TMSU is also providing participants who may be wary of missing class with guidance, including an email template they can send professors requesting amnesty for their absence.

They’ve also created a letter students may send to professors, asking them to grant wider amnesty to any students who walk out in their classes.

“We ask that you show your support by granting students across Toronto Metropolitan University academic amnesty,” it reads.

So-Kew said speakers for the rally are still being organized, but said the lineup will likely include representatives from labour unions and other student organizations.

She said if enough students attend, the walkout will send a strong message.

“There’s a lot of beauty when everyone comes together and you see everyone come together,” she said.