The Ontario government has ordered colleges to create a fund to help students who may be facing financial hardship because of a faculty strike that has cancelled classes for a month.
Advanced Education Minister Deb Matthews says she has heard from students who are worried about how to pay for unexpected costs that could arise as a result of the labour disruption, like having to pay additional rent or cancelling travel plans.
Matthews says Ontario's 24 colleges — including St. Clair College — will establish the dedicated fund with all the savings from the strike, made up of unpaid wages to striking staff and other savings from not operating the schools.