Debt profiles of new grads

The economic climate in Ontario in particular and Canada in general (especially, severe problems with government budget deficits and accumulated long-term debt) has led to increasing pressures to off-load financial responsibilities for postsecondary education from governments to those who reap the primary benefits of such education--namely, the students. As a result, there have been sizable increases in tuition fees for postsecondary programs in recent years. It is reasonable to assume that cash-strapped governments will continue to expect students in university and community college programs to pay an increasing share of their education. In fact, this is one of the major options set out in the recent federal government paper for reform of social programs.