Canada's most populous province is offering free university and college for low-income students.  The government of Ontario included a grant in its 2016-17 budget that would entirely pay for college or university tuition for students from families with incomes of C$50,000/AU$51,000 or less.

"I think this is a game changer for students - it really changes the economics of going to post-secondary education," said David Agnew, the president of Seneca College and chair of Colleges Ontario.  "There is a clear commitment to college education," he added.

The new Ontario Student Grant will provide different funding levels depending on which educational institution the student attends - 90 percent of college students from low income families will get more than $2,768, while 70 percent of university students would receive grants in excess of the average university tuition of $6,160, according to the province.  In Canada, "college" refers to two- to four-year schools that concentrate on direct career-training in trades, agriculture, health science, et cetera, and award certificates and bachelor's degrees.  "Universities" award bachelor's and master's degrees and doctorates in academic and professional programs.

Canadian colleges and universities were already less expensive than their counterparts south of the border in the United States, but students are still graduating with what critics say is "mortgage-sized" debt.  Every post-secondary group in Ontario - representing students, teachers, and administrators - welcomed the changes.

"This is something that students were directly calling for," said Rajean Hoilett, chair of the Canadian Federation of Students' Ontario executive committee.  "It shows that government has been listening to students who are sounding the alarm on affordability and access to education."

Ontario's Liberal (which is actually Liberal, unlike ahem ahem ahem) government also says it is on track to eliminate a C$5.7 billion deficit in the next budget.