Time is Money

Your time is money, so don’t give it away for free.

Students are expected to work for experience, but experience won’t pay the bills. Unpaid work is unfair and unsustainable. It’s time for change.

OVERVIEW

Why “Time is Money”?

For too long, work-integrated learning (WIL) has asked students to show up, contribute real labour, and absorb the financial cost themselves. 65% of students are financially unstable. 45% can’t reliably cover food and housing. Calling that a learning opportunity doesn’t make it fair.
IGNITE is working to bring that reality to the people with the power to change it.

time is money OBJECTIVES

What are We Trying to Achieve?

We are advocating for Humber Polytechnic and the University of Guelph-Humber to abandon unpaid internships as part of their curricula.

A person holds a yellow flyer reading Time is Money. Don’t Spend It for Free, in front of a laptop. The flyer displays a smartwatch and statistics, promoting efficiency and use of time.

No Pay, No Partnerships

We’re calling on our institution to stop partnering with companies that don’t pay for student work opportunities.

Nonpayment Shouldn’t be a Requirement

Stop promoting unpaid WIL by removing language about unpaid work in course requirements.

Make Paid Work the Standard

Work with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to secure legislation requiring institutions and businesses to provide WIL opportunities where mandated for graduation.

Why It Matters

We’re committed to making compensation the default, and we’re not backing down until we see real change.

24%

The percentage of Humber’s current placements that have mandatory compensation as of 2025.

Five students stand together smiling in front of a large U of G sign inside a modern university building with a spiral staircase and a colorful mural in the background.

80%

The number of University of Guelph-Humber students who had to work for free to graduate.

Five young adults walk down a staircase indoors, smiling and talking. They appear to be students, carrying backpacks and bags, and are casually dressed. The background shows a modern building interior.

20%

The number of University of Guelph-Humber students who were paid in 2023 and 2024.

MILESTONES

Time is Money’s Timelines and Milestones

Lasting change doesn’t happen overnight. Explore the Work Integrated Learning timeline to understand how IGNITE improves student lives.

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Two young adults stand indoors, both holding boxes labeled “Time for kindness” with QR codes. The woman wears a blue “IGNITE” jacket and smiles; the man wears a black “Break the Mould” shirt. They stand in a hallway with signs and a trash bin.

Winter 2025 – Summer 2025

700+ Humber and University of Guelph-Humber students shared unpaid placement stories, mostly in Social & Community Services and Health & Science.

Three students holding tablets with 9 Times or More on the screens talk with another student wearing a white Toronto Maple Leafs jersey in a school hallway.

October 2025

Nearly 5,000 students signed our Time is Money petition, showing students are genuinely concerned and want to see a push for compensated work. Our “Dear Doug Ford” video was released which got the attention of the opposition (NDP) in particular MPP Merit Stiles.

Group of seven professionals in business attire posing for a formal group photo in a marble hallway with columns.

November 2025

At CSA’s Advocacy Summit, we brought student concerns about unpaid placements to Queen’s Park, connected with supportive MPPs, and secured a follow-up meeting with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Two women sit at a conference table, smiling and engaged in conversation with a third person whose back is to the camera. A colorful painting and a monitor are visible on the wall behind them.

March 2026

SAs had follow-up meetings with the institution to discuss changes to Humber’s promotion of WIL.

April 2026

Our Advocates have met with Derek Stockley, Associate VO Academic and Jennifer Larson, Director of Academic Strategic Initiatives in early spring. They discussed the programs who have adopted the removal of unpaid language.

COMMON QUESTIONS

FAQs

Compensated opportunities are essential for students to focus on their education without the constant worry about making ends meet.

IGNITE is working hard to ensure every student is fairly compensated for their work.

How can I support Time is Money?

Keep the conversation going. You can support the campaign by putting pressure on Humber and UofGH administration, and by continuing to share our Confessions of Unpaid Interns videos on social media. Please keep sharing your personal WIL stories with IGNITE by reaching out to our Student Advocates. Your voice holds weight!

What is work-integrated learning (WIL)?

Work-integrated learning opportunities are experiential education opportunities that take students out of the classroom and into their industry. These include co-ops, internships and placements.

What qualifies as compensation?

Compensation can include an hourly wage, salary or honorarium.

When Students Come Together, We Can Create Real Change

IGNITES’s success comes down to the engagement of the Humber Polytechnic and the University of Guelph-Humber student body. Check out our current active initiatives and make your voice heard!

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