I suspect the engineering tuition is set as a function of supply and demand - the University of Waterloo has a fairly competitive engineering program. For examp

I suspect the engineering tuition is set as a function of supply and demand - the University of Waterloo has a fairly competitive engineering program. For example, engineering at Laurentian University, another public university in the same province, is only $10,000/year. Still, that's a large burden. There are government programs that provide a mix of non-repayable grants and deferred payment loans to people who qualify based on family income. I don't have too much personal experience with them, but I think the intent (and, for the most part, effect) is that economic ability shouldn't be a barrier for attendance.