A Ryerson University student is taking the students’ union to court to retrieve $290 in compulsory fees allocated towards a student health plan. “I should have the freedom to choose how I take care of my personal health,” engineering student Mark Single, who filed the small claims suit in December, told the Eyeopener.
Similar to student health and dental plans at other universities, Ryerson students are only permitted to opt out if they have alternative coverage with “similar benefits.” Single’s out of province health coverage and desire to cover other expenses out of pocket was declined as reason for opting out. “OHIP covers all the basics, anything beyond that should be up to the students, not shoved down their throats by the student’s union,” he said.
The students’ union is defending the claim. “We plan to respond based on the policy that has been established by our board of directors,” president Toby Whitefield said.