Some of you may have already heard that the foundation offering Millennium scholarships will cease to do so in 2010. But apparently the government will be implementing a new program instead.

I found an article in a local newspaper that seems to break down the differences between the two programs: http://herenb.canadaeast.com/news/article/231759

What do you think? Is this new program better, or should the Harper government have kept Millennium going a while longer?

I personally think it is sort of early to know yet exactly how this program will work to compare it to Millennium. However, I think it is a good thing that it will be more need-based as opposed to merit-based, and will offer more scholarships than Millennium currently does (if that in fact does occur).

I really don't like the sounds of this. Why don't they save the effort and add more to osap and the other provincial loan programs, since it will be the same thing.

Why spend all this money that could be going to students just to mimic the other loan programs?

It says they will be solely need based as opposed to the partially merit based millenium award... I was under the impression millenium was entirely merit based, but I may be missing something.

I honestly think that if they want to get rid of merit based funding, thats up to them, but if they do, they might as well save the 20-25 percet they're going to waste, and put it right into the provincial programs.

On a different note, since they provincial programs exists to help students on the basis of need, why get rid of the countries biggest merit based award system? I thought millenium was doing a great job of helping tons of students!

I'm really sceptical about this, seems liek they're removing the best way for people to get merit based funding, and it seems a waste to not at least put it directly into the provincial need based programs if that is their descision.

It's true, but at the same time, scholarships that are worth a large sum of money, sometimes almost enough to cover your entire tuition are a bit ridiculous.

I mean, I think there are a lot of students that deserve scholarships of academic excellence, but at the same time, there are a lot of people who do pretty decent but aren't recognized because there simply aren't enough scholarships to go around.

Like, a few BIG sum scholarships, highly competitive across every other graduating student in Canada.... or more scholarships, less sum for each, but more students can at least ATTAIN a scholarship?

Maybe I'm a bit biased because I'm not a 95%+ student... but I feel average - above average students should have more access to scholarships.... or split the huge scholarships into smaller amounts for more people.

from what i've gathered, i don't like the sounds of this.

I'm in a position where I'm not very likely to receive grants, bursaries, etc. My parents make a sufficient income that i would likely fall out of the range (or at least get a very, very small amount) of getting government assistance.


However, they are not contributing anything to my financial situation. I have to pay my tuition in full, my books, everything. The only places I can get money (aside from jobs) are merit-based awards.

I (and others like me) work my butt off to get a mid to high nineties average all throughout high school. I'm heavily involved, i volunteer regularly and I try so hard to get something for the work I do.

Now they're making these scholarships SOLELY based on needs?

I mean its good in the sense that more people will be getting some assistance, but what about the people like me? I'm 'too rich' to get any of these yet i'm not going to be seeing any money from anyone.

And don't they think this will decrease peoples' incentives to work harder in school? Just be born to parents who make little money and you're good as gold I suppose.


And yes I'm bitter.

I'm happy to see that money will still flow from the government to stuggling students after the Millenium program has ended. However as they are transfering the structure of dispersing the funds, from a independant to government group I can forsee problems and lags that will occur in the first few years. Hopefully the money that was added to the program will not go to more expensive operating costs and make it possible for more canadians to get through school.

Same situation. To increase the problem, I live in an area where work opportunities are very, very competitive for teenagers. It took me almost two years and I was lucky enough to land a job, but get crappy hours because the majority of my co-workers are teenagers, and we're all restricted to the same availability hours because of school. It's nice to aspire to paying for your own education, but with the amount of money I make, I will be able to cover very little without assistance from my parents or scholarships, period. I know there are loans and whatnot, I just really hate the idea of debt, but I guess it's inevitable in some way shape or form.