ontario tuition rebates question!!!

[umber100]

link if you havent read: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toront...n-rebates.html

my question is that it says the rebate is 30% of tuition, then it says its $1600. is the 30% based on average tuition? i ask because my yearly tuition is 13k so wouldnt a 30% rebate be 4.3k for me? also is there any other website that explains this more?

would appreciate some insight thanks!!

[Scottie Piffen]

next time read past the first sentence.

A centrepiece of the Liberal campaign platform was rebates of $730 for each college student and $1,600 for each university student from families with incomes under $160,000 a year.

[Piro21]

This is just another easily-abused boondoggle in the making, like OSAP. Why don't they just use the money to reduce tuition and benefit everyone? Less of it will be wasted on another layer of this godawful bureaucracy.

[Mulder and Scully]

This is just another easily-abused boondoggle in the making, like OSAP. Why don't they just use the money to reduce tuition and benefit everyone? Less of it will be wasted on another layer of this godawful bureaucracy.

Each college/university determines its own tuition. The Ontario tuition rebate is like any other rebate -- it cuts out the seller and goes directly to the consumer (students in this case). How colleges/universities work is that they receive a specific amount of funding per student from the provincial government, and after that it's up to each school to charge whatever they want on top. Quebec is different in that the Quebec government puts a cap on the max tuition charged whereas in Ontario there isn't a cap.

Let's say for example that the Ontario government gives the school $500 per student. School A then adds another $500 on top to make tuition $1,000 while School B adds $200 to make their tuition $700. (You can guess which universities will milk students for as much as possible.) The Ontario government will never reduce the funding they give per student because this will just affect the school's operating costs and also the school would just increase tuition charged to make up the difference. By giving tuition rebates the Ontario government guarantees that every student can receive the same amount without the middleman being involved.

[insurance1]

This is just another easily-abused boondoggle in the making, like OSAP. Why don't they just use the money to reduce tuition and benefit everyone? Less of it will be wasted on another layer of this godawful bureaucracy.

Nothing wrong with government creating another layer, it provides Ontarians good middle class incomes. And not everyone should get the money back, I don't want some doctor's kid getting it back! Creating the layer of bureaucracy prevents that.

[Menos]

Does anyone know when we'll get it and how? There is absolutely no information regarding this. Also, is it possible to switch the application from remitting money to your institution if your student account is paid for?

Example: I have X Amount left for m winter installment. I have Y amount left on my student account. All of X would have been remitted to my institution to cover Y, but since the 30% (or I guess $1600) would cover a bit of Y, I would have a bit of loan money (X) left.

[Maedhros]

Nothing wrong with government creating another layer, it provides Ontarians good middle class incomes. And not everyone should get the money back, I don't want some doctor's kid getting it back! Creating the layer of bureaucracy prevents that.

Huh?

I HATE this type of thinking? Because my parents make more money then some or because they PLANNED for the future and got me an RESP that pays for my tuition we shouldn't be entitled to a rebate or OSAP?

Why is it that the governments programs punish those who plan and make money?

OH... you put money into a RESP every year Instead of paying for a new car? Sorry, no OSAP for you.

Liike... wtf?

[CSK'sMom]

Does anyone know when we'll get it and how? There is absolutely no information regarding this. Also, is it possible to switch the application from remitting money to your institution if your student account is paid for?

Example: I have X Amount left for m winter installment. I have Y amount left on my student account. All of X would have been remitted to my institution to cover Y, but since the 30% (or I guess $1600) would cover a bit of Y, I would have a bit of loan money (X) left.

To begin with, you're not getting $1600 this term... The $1600 figure is for the full year and it will be pro-rated for this term as the grant only came into existence Jan 1st.

And frankly, even I don't know exactly how this is going to work. I've been told by my sources a cheques or direct deposit will happen later in the term, in part because of those that have already payed their tuition for this coming term. In Sept it will be reflected right on the invoice. Non-OSAP students have to apply through a website so there is no way they are going to see the money before it's due in many cases. My own kids tuition was due last month for this coming term and the school actually took it from his fall loans....

[CSK'sMom]

Huh?

I HATE this type of thinking? Because my parents make more money then some or because they PLANNED for the future and got me an RESP that pays for my tuition we shouldn't be entitled to a rebate or OSAP?

Why is it that the governments programs punish those who plan and make money?

OH... you put money into a RESP every year Instead of paying for a new car? Sorry, no OSAP for you.

Liike... wtf?

Planning has nothing to do with this grant for the moment but family income does. Frankly the cutoff ($160k) is too high IMO and should be lowered. That cutoff is extremely generous when you know the stats for actual incomes in this country.

Secondly, be thankful if you get it and not get OSAP. I have a feeling this is going to go the way of the textbook grant. It too started out for 1 year being available to all students, then went to OSAP only in year 2. Don't be shocked if the same happens with this grant....

[Maedhros]

Planning has nothing to do with this grant for the moment but family income does. Frankly the cutoff ($160k) is too high IMO and should be lowered. That cutoff is extremely generous when you know the stats for actual incomes in this country.

Secondly, be thankful if you get it and not get OSAP. I have a feeling this is going to go the way of the textbook grant. It too started out for 1 year being available to all students, then went to OSAP only in year 2. Don't be shocked if the same happens with this grant....

God I hope not... Its crazy enough when you are in coop and most of the jobs listed say "OSAP ONLY"

[Bskll]

God I hope not... Its crazy enough when you are in coop and most of the jobs listed say "OSAP ONLY"

that's because a lot of co-op jobs are paid for by the government. they have a right to then osap only.

[insurance1]

Huh?

I HATE this type of thinking? Because my parents make more money then some or because they PLANNED for the future and got me an RESP that pays for my tuition we shouldn't be entitled to a rebate or OSAP?

Why is it that the governments programs punish those who plan and make money?

OH... you put money into a RESP every year Instead of paying for a new car? Sorry, no OSAP for you.

Liike... wtf?

Um, because they don't need it? Poor people need more support than rich people. That's a fact you can't argue with. If you don't like it, move to the US where their poor people are treated like second class citizens compared to poor people in Canada, who the government gives money to in order for them to be more equal financially. I'd be a big fan of charging low income people no tuition, but tripling it for the very few rich people. Maybe that will be the next election promise of McGuinty (it will probably be another large tuition grant at least, maybe $5000 per year).

[insurance1]

that's because a lot of co-op jobs are paid for by the government. they have a right to then osap only.

Agreed. Maedhros, your views don't belong in Canada. Poor people should get more support. Inequality is bad. No one claims inequality is good (except for you, apparently).

[LisaB]

To begin with, you're not getting $1600 this term... The $1600 figure is for the full year and it will be pro-rated for this term as the grant only came into existence Jan 1st.

And frankly, even I don't know exactly how this is going to work. I've been told by my sources a cheques or direct deposit will happen later in the term, in part because of those that have already payed their tuition for this coming term. In Sept it will be reflected right on the invoice. Non-OSAP students have to apply through a website so there is no way they are going to see the money before it's due in many cases. My own kids tuition was due last month for this coming term and the school actually took it from his fall loans....

Is anyone entitled to this? My niece finished her undergrad, but is thinking about going back full-time for another undergrad. Would she get this if she starts next September? Or is it only for first-time students?

[eugeneo]

When will it start?

The program will begin in January 2012. Each eligible student will have half of the grant made available in January for the second term’s tuition – meaning $800 for university students and $365 for college students. The full amount would then be available in September 2012.

How will it affect my other financial assistance?

If you meet the above criteria, you will be eligible for the grant whether or not you receive OSAP. However, OSAP students should be aware of some likely stipulations of the new grant program.

If you currently receive the Ontario Distance Grant, Ontario Access Grant or Textbook & Technology Grant together in excess of $1,600, the new tuition grant will not come in addition to the funds you receive from these programs. Rather, you will keep the amounts you receive from these programs as well as the difference between their combined value and the tuition grant. That is the total you will be able to receive in provincial up-front grants is $1,600

Full text is available here http://www.ousa.ca/tuitiongrant/