CREDIT: MELANIE ANDERSON
Fanshawe Student Union President Zack Dodge knows all too well the financial struggles some students face when they have to pay for their own post-secondary education.

“It will be an increase whether we like it or not,” said Fanshawe Student President Zack Dodge.

For the 2013/14 school year, Ontario colleges and universities may have its lowest tuition fee increase in seven years: less than five per cent.

But, in the eyes of students and student groups in Ontario, it's still an increase.

Fanshawe's Student Union works with the College Student Alliance advocacy group each year on many student-related issues in the province, including budget proposals.

“Part of our proposal this year to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, on behalf of our students, we're advocating on a tuition freeze. We feel that the increases over the past few years and the lifestyle that students are leading these days it's kinda tough to catch up to yourself with constantly taking out lines of credits and student loans,” said Dodge.

The average Fanshawe student pays $3,561.68 for tuition in their first year. The number jumps to $7,100 for all Ontario undergraduate students - the highest average tuition rate in all of Canada.

“Right across the board, Ontario struggles with tuition rates, and we are paying more per student and with less offset from the province in student funding than anywhere else in the country,” stressed Dodge, “so seeing any form of an increase in a province that's already struggling is a step in the wrong direction.”

Although no final decisions have been made, the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Brad Duguid said he doesn't want to see an increase. “Extending the current framework (a five per cent annual cap the Liberals set in 2006) is not where my head is at right now.”

Some believe that Ontario may let tuition increase by inflation plus one per cent as a compromise between student groups calling for a freeze on tuition, student groups asking for a 30 per cent drop over seven years, and post-secondary institutions that argue they need that five per cent increase.

For students, tuition continues to burn a hole in their pockets.

“It's nowhere near where our students would like to see these rates moving,” said Dodge.