CASA has access to top policy and decision-makers, the media, and a wide cross-section of students. CASA advocates to the federal government for an accessible, affordable, and high quality post-secondary education system through these various channels. Some examples of how CASA influences the policy development process are as follows:
CASA is one of only 12 organizations that lobbied Prime Minister Stephen Harper more than once between 2008 and 2010.
At our 2011 Advocacy Week, CASA met with over 115 Members of Parliament, Senators, and senior policy officials including:
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper
- Bob Rae, Interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
- Louis Plamondon, Interim Leader of the Bloc Quebeçois
- Minister Steven Fletcher, Minister Peter MacKay, Minister Gail Shea, Minister Vic Toews, Minister Rob Nicholson, Minister of State Gary Goodyear
- Senator Noel Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate
- Senator James Cowan, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
- Director of Policy to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
- Policy Advisor to Minister of Finance
- Staff at the Prime Minister’s Office
- Director General of the Canada Student Loans Program
In the past CASA has influenced political decision-making through other avenues:
- CASA was an invited guest of the Liberal Party of Canada’s “Canada at 150” conference in March, 2010 in Montreal.
- The Prime Minister’s Office and the Office of the Leader of the Opposition regularly ask CASA to consult on policy proposals and platform development.
- The Canada Student Loans Program has begun to rely on CASA in the last year for regulatory and program analysis outside of the normal consultative groups, such as the National Advisory Group on Student Financial Assistance.
- CASA is a collaborative partner, constructively offering solutions to the public service in the development of the new bill to reform the Copyright Act.
- CASA was asked to participate in the creation of the Green Party PSE platform
- CASA was a registered third party in the 2011 General Election.
- CASA schools have a contact person at Elections Canada dedicated to ensuring smooth voter registration and balloting by students.
How can you get involved?
The first step is becoming informed. CASA wants you to understand the way investments in higher education help students and all Canadians. Good information leads to better decision-making. Students like you can help by actively promoting these issues to family, friends, and co-workers. If you are interested in putting the issue to government, CASA’s student members are here to help.
Tips for lobbying:
- Define the problem you are trying to tackle
- Find out the root cause of the problem
- Explore who has the power to resolve the issue
- Find out who shares the same concerns you do
- Figure out your strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities
- Set out your priorities
- Make a plan for engaging the Media, Public Officials, those who share your concerns, and the public in the debate.
- Do what you have to do to achieve the desired objective.
Expanding your influence:
- Write a letter to your MP about your experience with the Canada Student Loans Program
- Write an Opinions piece for a newspaper about the cost of tuition, or textbooks.
- Talk to your campus student association about your issue
- Get involved in the community with others who share your concerns
- Fundraise for your issue of choice
- Join a political party, advocacy group, or non-governmental organization.
