www.CloseTheGaps.ca Press Release OTTAWA, January 30, 2019 – Students across the country are kicking off the Canadian Alliance of Students Associations’ (CASA) #CloseTheGaps campaign today, underlining the massive gaps in Canadian post-secondary education that have been exacerbated by the onset of the global pandemic. From the urgent need for action on student mental health, to the lack of digital broadband access, to the bleak job market, students want to channel this energy into tangible action to help support each other and to build a stronger post-secondary sector.

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2020 has brought it’s fair bit of challenges for Canadian post-secondary students. The pandemic forced students to quickly move to digital learning and make a lot of difficult changes in their life. Well, while you were busy being the best students you could be, CASA was busy representing student interests to the federal government. Here are the top ten things CASA has done!

OTTAWA, Nov 3, 2020 -- The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed the lives of all Canadians and the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) has been watching closely as the lives of post-secondary students has changed considerably. To continue to keep post-secondary issues top of mind, CASA and the Quebec Student Union (QSU) have organized a month of digital advocacy, representing 365 000 students - one of the largest advocacy efforts hosted by students.   Jointly, CASA and the QSU will be focussing on five major priorities: expanding access to trade re-skilling, reducing mental health barriers for Indigenous post-secondary students, streamlining the ability for international students to work in Canada, improving access to affordable childcare, and increasing the Canadian Research Granting Agencies student scholarship funding.

OTTAWA, October 7, 2020 -- Students in Canada continue to face numerous challenges to their mental well-being amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) is excited to see the launch of the National Standard Of Canada For Mental Health And Well-being For Post-secondary Students (the Student Standard). CASA has long advocated for holistic mental wellness services for all post secondary students, and therefore we are hopeful the Student Standard will provide institutions with the framework they need to best support all students. As post-secondary across Canada rapidly shifted to online learning it created a lot of uncertainty for students, while heightening their feelings of stress and anxiety over concerns about health and safety, isolation, finances, and the future.

OTTAWA, October 1, 2020 -- With the shift to online learning, millions of students need better digital infrastructure to succeed in their classes. The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) is hopeful that the Government of Canada’s $2 billion investment to connect 750,000 homes to high-speed broadband in underserved communities will significantly benefit post-secondary learners. Without this immediate investment, significant challenges will persist for many students, especially those in rural and remote communities, as they attempt to access their online education. The transition to digital learning requires robust internet connection for both instructors and students, and we are hopeful today’s announcement is the first step to increased rural broadband access throughout Canada.