Post-secondary students across Ontario walked out of classes on Thursday, 5 November 2026, in a province-wide day of action organised by the Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario under its “Hands Off Our Education” campaign.
Walkouts, rallies and demonstrations took place on more than 15 campuses, including York University, the University of Guelph, Trent University, the University of Windsor, Toronto Metropolitan University and the University of Toronto, with a rally at Queen’s Park in Toronto.
Students are protesting the province’s February 2026 OSAP changes, which cut non-repayable grants from a maximum of 85 per cent to 25 per cent of student aid, with loans rising to a minimum of 75 per cent.
They are also protesting the end of a seven-year tuition freeze, which allowed universities and colleges to raise domestic tuition by up to 2 per cent a year over three years.
CFS-Ontario chairperson Cyrielle Ngeleka said at Queen’s Park that students “have had enough of being asked to pay more, borrow more and accept less.”
The Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario says it represents more than 350,000 college and university students across the province.
The walkout is one of the largest student actions in Ontario in years, and it puts the cost of post-secondary education firmly back on the political agenda. Students say the changes mean more debt and less help — and they want the province to listen.
It comes in a busy week for Canadian news, from Prime Minister Carney’s four-country Europe and Asia trip to the Canada submarine deal with Germany. The students’ message was simple: education should not mean a lifetime of debt.
Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.