Supporting Domestic Post-Secondary Tuition Fees for Ukrainian Students Residing in Ontario under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel Program - by Councillor Lily Cheng, seconded by Councillor Jamaal Myers

Over 286,000 Ukrainians have sheltered in Canada under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program which includes access to elementary and secondary school, access to health care and the right to apply for study and work permits. The Federal CUAET program does not classify Ukrainians as refugees. However, Ukrainians currently sheltering in Canada, even with the intent to return to Ukraine, are still refugees according to our common understanding of the term in that they are fleeing war. The CUAET is silent on the question of the amount of post-secondary tuition and fees to be paid by Ukrainian students in Canada. The Government of Ontario is responsible for regulating student tuition for post-secondary educational institutions in the province and should open the way for Ukrainian students to pay domestic tuition and fees to attend post-secondary educational institutions while a resident of Ontario under the CUAET program. This motion is urgent in order to help Ukrainian students fleeing war to access domestic post-secondary educational institution tuition rates and Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) for September 2024.

City Council request the Government of Ontario, in advance of September 2024, extend the exemption from international tuition fees for post-secondary educational institutions, and the Ontario Student Assistance Program to refugee claimants at the appropriate stage in the refugee application process, residing in Ontario.