Thread by @moulton_jasmine

On the heels of #studentloanforgiveness in the US, I did some research on the #freetuition movement being pushed by leftist politicians here in Canada, and unearthed a lot of interesting facts. #cdnpoli

Sharing here in a 🧵

The average debt owed by Canadian university students upon graduation at both the bachelor's and master's level is $28,000.

For grads with a doctorate, the average is $33,000 of debt. (source: www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.…)

Despite the @NDP's website stating: "Young people shouldn’t start out with a mountain of debt," each Canadian's individual share of *government debt* is greater than the average debt of a graduating doctoral student! ndp.ca/student-debt

Your individual portion of federal government debt is $32,500. (source: debtclock.ca)

Additionally, each Ontarian owes $31,300 more in provincial government debt.

That's ~$64,000 in government debt that each Ontario baby already owes at birth.

(Of course, provincial debts vary. My point is: it's disingenuous of leftist politicians to grow the debt through #loanforgiveness and #freetuition programs that will burden the next generation as a future tax liability.)

University is already heavily subsidized in Canada - to the tune of about 2/3.

Tuition only makes up about 29% of universities' revenue. (www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.…)

If "free tuition" is the key to increasing post-secondary attendance, then leftist activists and politicians will have to explain why Canada is one of the most highly educated countries in the world, surpassing countries that charge no tuition fees.

An OECD report confirms Canada ranks higher for rates of tertiary education amongst 25-34 year olds (at 64%) than the following countries with "free" tuition:

France - 49%
Denmark - 47%
Finland - 45%
Germany - 35%

(source: data.oecd.org/eduatt/populat…)

Likewise, it's incumbent upon #studentloanforgiveness and #freetuition advocates to explain how some of the university classes on offer today will lead to economic growth (as they claim) - bearing in mind opportunity costs!

Consider these courses on offer at the University of Toronto:

-Fake S*** in History
-The Yard: Micro-Geographies of Household Outdoor Spaces
-Sexuality and Disability
-The Beatles
-Drunk History
-The Politics of Girlhood

UofT's course, "Goddess lessons: gender, religion and pop" explores the question: “What does it mean to follow lesbian Jesus?” (according to its course description.)

But I think Ryerson's "Deconstructing Drake and the Weeknd" course still takes the cake: toronto.citynews.ca/2021/09/18/rye…

I could go on but this thread is long enough! If you want to get the full case against #freetuition in Canada, watch my latest YouTube video via @TrueNorthCentre: