Instead of proposing to axe a 30 per cent tuition discount for post-secondary students, whoever forms the next provincial government should make it available to more youth, says the president of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance.

“We feel that this is a policy that is regressive — a policy that is taking a step backwards in terms of investment,” said Jen Carter, referring to a campaign promise by Tim Hudak that a Progressive Conservative government would scrap the fee break.

Carter herself benefitted from the tuition grant when her father became unemployed.

“My father lost his job right before I began university,” said the fourth-year Western University student, who has received the grant for the past three years.

“The 30-per-cent grant helped ease the financial burden . . . . This story is common to students throughout Ontario.”

Last year, 230,000 Ontario college and university students received the grant, roughly $1,730 a year for a degree program, and $790 for a college diploma or certificate program. In order to qualify, family income must be less than $160,000.

Some 600,000 students in the province are not eligible.

The undergraduate student group, along with the College Student Alliance, has also created a website, itsyourvote.ca, for post-secondary students about the election and the importance of voting.