From affordability concerns to Ontario’s political future, Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles weighs in on recent issues.
The Ontario NDP leader joined The Brandon Gonez Show for a conversation covering the issues making headlines across the province.
In February, Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford announced cuts to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) significantly dropping educational grants and raising loans.
Affecting thousands of students across the province, this implementation starting this fall has people highly stressed out when it comes to affordability.
Marit Stiles discusses the impact of the Ontario government’s OSAP cuts on students and is transparent that they are not being prioritized out of selfishness.
“We’ve put forward a number now, and we did put forward a motion. We had a whole debate, and the government voted against it, which is really unfortunate, and we’re gonna keep fighting on that level,” Stiles tells The Brandon Gonez Show.
“Yeah, I’d say students got screwed, really screwed by this government. And you know, again, it’s a question of priorities. Like the government has the money, the government is choosing not to spend that money to support students,” she shared.
She also explained that many young people now have to rethink their decision of getting a post secondary education, because these financial cuts have now set them back, especially those who have to support their families.
Many young Canadians have been speaking out about the current workforce, expressing the difficulties in finding a job even upon graduation.
A lot of students will now be in a tough spot being able to afford to continue their studies if they now don’t have access to education grants.
“I don’t know how we’re going to be able to grow that workforce that we need out there and give people a real chance unless we actually invest in people. So it is a choice, they’ve chosen the wrong path,” said Stiles.
Marit Stiles also touched on another situation that had Ontarions upset with Doug Ford in the recent weeks, his private jet.
Last month it was confirmed that the Ontario government sold the $28.9-million private jet after receiving public backlash.
Stiles weighed in on the newly released documents showing the jet cost taxpayers almost $200,000.
“I think the reason a lot of people are so upset about it is because it’s about what he could be paying attention to, you know. What you could be spending that money on, and I did the math, and I think figured out that $30 million would be like 3000 good summer jobs for young people,” Stiles said.
The opposition leader also called out Premier Doug Ford for constantly getting away with a lot and explained that he and members of his government are currently under investigation.
“When people break the law in Ontario, they can end up in jail. And the Premier and other members of his government right now are under RCMP criminal investigation for allegations that they carved up the Greenbelt for certain developers with inside information. And that’s what’s underway as we speak,” Stiles shared.
Although Stiles spoke on many heavy topics, she did end off by shouting out Toronto’s very own rapper, Drake ahead of his new album release and his “Iceman” marketing campaigns.
“I have been following it all, because my daughter is all over it. So we’ve been following along. She had some inside scoop at one point about where he was gonna be at one point. And I was following along too as a result,” said Stiles.
Check out the full episode here:
