There is widespread agreement across all sectors and governments, both nationally and internationally, that investment in postsecondary education and research is the only reliable method by which to sustain economic growth.
CASA is committed to providing all parties with its recommendations for doing post-secondary education better in this country, in ways that respect the constitution and focus on empowering individuals to better society and themselves.
Education does not just bring private benefits. CASA is recommending investment in graduate students–some of the most recent research argues that society gets $2.82 for every dollar invested in a master’s student, $6.47 for every dollar invested in a professional student, and $15.44 for every dollar invested in a doctoral student.
Making post-secondary education for Aboriginal Canadians a priority has the opportunity to raise tax revenues by $3.5 billion per year, and lower government expenses by $14.2 billion–yielding $55.66 for every dollar invested, while assisting a crucial population escape poverty.
But sometimes, government’s role is simply to help Canadians help themselves. That is why CASA is recommending several reforms to the Canada Student Loan Program, which could go on to help 200,000 students every year, and hundreds of thousands of parents with children unable to get a student loan that pays for the cost of education.
If government were to act on these recommendations today, it would be acting on a consistent public priority, and Canada’s economic and health prosperity would be better secured.
Summary of Recommendations
On behalf of twenty-six member schools from coast to coast, is our pleasure to present you with the following recommendations:
- Increase the Canada Student Loan Program’s instudy income allowance from $50/week to $200/ week.
- Exempt a single vehicle from the Canada Student Loan Program’s assessment of assets.
- Eliminate the expectation of a parental contribution from the Canada Student Loan Program’s assessment of assets.
- Increase the student loan limit from $210/week to $290/week.
- Increase the Post-Secondary Student Support Program by $351-365 million, including $33-47 million to ensure its proper administration.
- Amend Bill C-32 to allow the circumvention of technological protection measures for purposes that do not infringe on copyright.
- Amend Bill C-32 to eliminate the restrictions on interlibrary loans, course lectures and lecture notes.
- Amend Bill C-32 to eliminate section 27.1 prohibiting the parallel importation of books from foreign distributors.
- Create a Grant for Graduate Students with High Financial Need, valued at $2,000/year on average and assessed on the basis of need.
- Make it easier for international students to work off campus.
- Make it easier for international students to go home during their studies.
- Create a dedicated cash transfer to the provinces for post-secondary education, valued at $4.5 billion.