July 27th 2023, OTTAWA - The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) is pleased to welcome new ministers to their roles today as the Prime Minister has announced changes to the federal Cabinet.

We welcome the Hon. Randy Boissonnault to his new position as Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages. As a touchpoint for the government’s post-secondary strategy, we look forward to meeting with the Hon. Boissonnault in the coming months to discuss our priorities, including those around the Canada Student Grants program.

The Hon. Carolyn Bennett leaves Cabinet with over two decades of listening to students and student concerns, including two years as Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. We thank her for her willingness to listen to students and talk to students about student priorities. CASA looks forward to continued advocacy on those issues, especially the yet unfulfilled platform and mandate letter commitment to investment of $500 million in post-secondary mental health staff and supports over four years, including $50 million to Indigenous supports.  We welcome the Hon. Ya’ara Saks to her position and look forward to speaking with her on behalf of the 76% of students who report mental health challenges.

We look forward to continued engagement with Ministers in their new portfolios. We welcome Hon. Fraser to his new position as Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities and the Hon. Miller as Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. We look forward to sharing student concerns about quality of international student experience and cost of housing.

Students express gratitude to the Ministers with whom CASA has met and worked with, thank them for their willingness to listen to student concerns, and hope they will continue to think about the student perspective as they work in their new roles.

CASA looks forward to meeting with new and returning officials and their staff in order to continue to advocate for student’s needs from coast to coast to coast.