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.
With student unemployment at a generational high, the scope of investment by the government reflects the challenge at hand. “Expansions in student training represent a long-term investment in the skills that will build a productive Canadian economy”, said Abdul Abbasi, Chair of CASA’s Board of Directors. “Students are pleased to see that the government has met CASA’s call for tens of thousands of student jobs in growing economic sectors.”
The expansion of federal student aid continues to be a priority for students. The temporary expansion of current student aid levels is not a permanent solution to increases in student cost of living, but the government has clearly signalled that excluding students from post-secondary education on the basis of socioeconomic status is not the right path forward for Canada.
CASA and UEQ welcome the prioritization of research in Budget 2025, building on commitments from 2024. “Today’s budget will support talented graduate students and post-doctoral fellows,” said Flora Dommanget, President of UEQ. While noting cuts to research budgets and visa limits for foreign researchers, CASA and l’UEQ hope that Budget 2025 will lead to further commitments to strengthening Canada’s research ecosystem.
Affordable housing is a major priority for Canadian students and CASA is concerned about the absence of student housing from the new housing strategy. In its platform, the federal government had committed to investing $2 billion dollars in senior and student housing and students were disappointed that the implementation of these plans has not been treated with the necessary urgency.
CASA and UEQ continue to communicate student concerns to the government and look forward to sharing the impacts of the budget and further recommendations for affordability and sector stability to the government. We will bring the student voice to share on-the-ground stories with parliamentarians when they visit Parliament Hill for its annual advocacy week from November 17th to November 21st.
