Investments in Student Assistance and Apprentices to Substantially Support Canada’s Youth-in-Training Ottawa, ON - Today’s Spring Economic Update highlights the importance of investment in youth and training as part of a vision for a prosperous Canada.  The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) has pushed for the extension of the Canada Student Financial Assistance program, which supports over 700,000 students annually across Canada. CASA is optimistic that the government’s action on this needed temporary extension of the program will see a permanent expansion and extension in the coming fall budget. "Today's Economic Update represents recognition from the government on investing in youth and students to achieve Canada's ambitious goals," said Abdul Abbasi, Chair of CASA. "We look forward to continued opportunities to share student issues and find pragmatic and impactful solutions that benefit students and the country." As an advocate for a comprehensive and trades-integrated education system, CASA welcomes the investments in financial assistance to apprentices, and the rollout of this summer’s employment programming that will assist all students and youth, including apprentices, to be able to gain work experience, afford education and contribute to the Canadian economy. The wage subsidy provided through Build Canada Apprenticeship Service will incentivize employers to hire and train apprentices, and the Apprenticeship Training Grant will help address earnings gaps during in-class training hours, a long-standing CASA priority. As the government continues to focus on skilled trades development, CASA will continue to advocate for programming that improves apprenticeship retention and successful certification.  “This is good news for the student-apprentice community, which will benefit from this investment,” said Flora Dommanget, President of the Québec Students’ Union. “The government must continue to invest more in the student population to meet their needs.” As the government increases its capital investments in housing and infrastructure, CASA is pleased to see post-secondary eligibility for the Build Communities Strong Fund, which will help address mounting deferred maintenance and support modernized, green infrastructure on campus.  -30- About CASA: Established in 1995, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit, national student organization composed of 25 student associations representing 300,000 post-secondary students from coast to coast. Through its partnership with the Quebec Student Union/l’Union étudiante du Québec (UEQ) and its members representing 110,000 students, CASA presents a national student voice to the federal government. CASA advocates for a Canadian post-secondary education system that is accessible, affordable, innovative, and of the highest quality. CASA Contact: Mariam Trifess, Communications and Public Relations OfficerE-mail: [email protected]: (438) 225-4492

Ottawa, Ontario – March 23, 2026— Today, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) welcomes the announcement by the Minister of Jobs and Families extending grant and loan maximums in the Canada Student Financial Assistance program. The 40% increase in maximums, which has been present since 2023 have given extended temporary reprieves for permanent student assistance levels that have not been adjusted since 2016, despite the student cost of living rising by over 58%. This announcement follows months of sustained advocacy by students across the country, including a national petition organized by CASA’s Chair and signed by thousands nationwide, as well as a coordinated national advocacy week held in November 2025.

CASA Chair, Abdul Abbasi, has recently opened a Parliament of Canada e-petition, e-7090, calling on the federal government to permanently expand the Canada Student Financial Assistance program. The last time the levels for Canada Student Financial Assistance were permanently raised was 2016. After a large temporary expansion in response to the pandemic, and smaller ones since 2023, the federal government has failed to remove the precarity from this program. Every year that it is not expanded is another year that students fear that the temporary extensions will be cut in the middle of their studies. Student leaders from across Canada have come together to identify student assistance as a core component of increasing food access, decreasing student homelessness, and affording education that is far more expensive than in generations past.  To the over 700,000 Canadian students who benefit from the program, and eventually repay it through their increased earnings in future employment, we want to see action in the government's spring economic statement to permanently expand this program. The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations is asking individuals to sign the petition, and share it with those who might want to. Most individuals, regardless of age or immigration status, are able to sign the petition, and can do so here. If individuals want to write an email to a local MP, they can find the contact information of that MP using this tool, and should ask whether students can depend on federal contributions to student grants and loans not being cut during your degree or diploma.

CASA has been advocating for students since the 1990s, and here is a selection of what CASA has accomplished prior to 2020. CASA continues to work to protect the advocacy wins students have won in the past, and get new ones for the future. Budgets in 2023 and 2024 gave us a wide range of funding investments, some preserving old CASA wins, and some representing new funding.  

CASA and UEQ are bringing 90+ students from across Canada to Ottawa, taking over 100 meetings with Ministers and Members of Parliament.  Students are advocating for the government to increase affordability and employability in post-secondary education, to set them, and Canada up for success. Summary of recommendations: Maintain the value of the Canada Student Grant Program by increasing the maximum grant levels to $5 000, and increasing maximum loan levels to $360 per week. Address the skilled labour shortage by ensuring that federal infrastructure and housing project contribution agreements mandate that a minimum of 10% of worksite hours be worked by apprentices Ensure Canada remains competitive in retaining top research talent by securing Budget 2024 investments and incorporating adjustments to CPI to tri-council graduate research scholarships. Deliver a Canada Student Housing Strategy through Build Canada Homes, comprising $1 billion in grants and loans for residences and non-profit student housing. Prioritize the retention of talent in Canada by doubling the Express Entry Program immigration points given to those with a Canadian post-secondary credential in Part D of the Comprehensive Ranking System. Download Advocacy Document

The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) and Quebec Student Union/Union Étudiante du Québec (UEQ) are pleased to see several policy announcements in the federal budget that address student issues. While students across the country did not see the full level of investment that they deserve, they are encouraged by the important steps taken to start addressing the  employment and affordability challenges that they are currently facing.