What you're describing sounds a lot like for profit colleges, like Devry or Phoenix. I wonder if for profit colleges are a thing in Canada. Here, in the States, they are. They're a big problem too, they're one of those kinds of companies that profit off the poor. Basically, they convince the poor, minorities, and former servicemen into going their schools, promising cheap and easy education. They're extremely aggressive in recruiting and they often go after people who can get loans for school easily due to their social status, but don't know any better to use their loans for trade schools or community colleges. The degrees they give you are worthless, because they have a reputation for teaching crummy classes. What's worse, most of their credits don't transfer to real schools. When you combine for profit colleges with smaller colleges who often lose accreditation, a lot of people are left high and dry with debt.

I wonder if living with a lower income is easier in Canada too, thanks to your social health care and probably cheaper rent and such. I'd actually love to see a comparison of Canada's food welfare programs versus programs like Foodstamps and WIC here in the States. God knows you probably do have better health care, even with waiting lists. Hell, I don't live in Canada and even I had to wait a month and a half to see a doctor more times than I like to admit. It sucks. The least they could have done was make it free.