Ontario students walk out of classrooms to protest Ford's funding changes (PHOTOS)

At 12 pm, students throughout the province collectively walked out of their classrooms to protest the provincial government’s changes to post-secondary funding.

The staged walkout comes just two months after Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government eliminated free tuition for low-income students, while imposing a 10% across-the-board tuition fee cut, and made several once-mandatory student fees, such as those that fund campus organizations and clubs, optional.

Additionally, the six-month grace period on student loan interest has also been cancelled.

Here in Toronto, students from Ryerson and U of T joined forces to protest cuts to post-secondary education, in conjunction with other protests across the province.

Students as far as Halifax walked out of classes today to stand in solidarity with Ontario students.

 

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A post shared by Levi Clarkson (@rainydayriots) on Mar 20, 2019 at 10:06am PDT

According to the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), students are walking out to call on the government to provide more grants, rather than loans, eliminate tuition fees for all students, increase public funding for public education, protect students’ independent voices, and demand the right to organize.

Here’s what the walkout looked like throughout the province.

#studentwalkout #wethestudents #nomoredougford pic.twitter.com/5ktwDwoxe3

— 🌙✨☁️ (@cardosooraquell) March 20, 2019

Standing with students and faculty at #UofT today against the Ford Conservatives’ post-secondary cuts! Students united will never be defeated #WeTheStudents #ONwalkout #ONpse pic.twitter.com/kDs6IbNTn1

— Ali Chatur (@alichatur) March 20, 2019

Everything getting started #UofT challenging #fordnation on attacks on students and student orgs. Students, campus orgs, politicians here #wethestudents #osap pic.twitter.com/54JuqwQPDg

— Andrea Calver (@andreacalver) March 20, 2019

Hundreds of students are here at #YorkU to oppose regressive changes by @fordnation! #ONpoli #WeTheStudents pic.twitter.com/9KlCBDZOjC

— YUGSA (@YUGSA84) March 20, 2019

We’re in Vari Hall at the student walkout against Ford’s cuts to education! #EducationIsARight #YorkU #WeTheStudents #OSAP pic.twitter.com/MOnIejNsts

— Kirsten4BoG (@Kirsten4BoG) March 20, 2019

If the people don’t get it, shut it down! #WetheStudents @CFSON @ldnscoalition pic.twitter.com/JnDRxtuc3y

— Ari Vangeest 🌹 (@arivangeest) March 20, 2019

Rally at York University has turned into a sit in at Vari Hall#wethestudents #cfsfcee #onpoli #onpse @YFSlocal68@YUGSA84 pic.twitter.com/5Tv122802N

— CFS-Ontario (@CFSON) March 20, 2019

 

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A post shared by Stephanie Russell (@stephanie.russell.549) on Mar 20, 2019 at 9:18am PDT

 

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A post shared by UofT Graduate Students’ Union (@utgsu) on Mar 20, 2019 at 9:21am PDT

 

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A post shared by We Are The Students Ryerson (@wearethestudentsru) on Mar 20, 2019 at 9:16am PDT

 

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A post shared by Michael Payne (@mikpyn) on Mar 20, 2019 at 10:14am PDT

 

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A post shared by LUSU Orillia (@lusu_orillia) on Mar 20, 2019 at 10:12am PDT

 

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A post shared by WALKOUT MARCH 20 (@ptbocoalitionace) on Mar 20, 2019 at 10:09am PDT