The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) and the Union Étudiante du Québec (UEQ) are calling for action on Canada’s most pressing challenges, from youth unemployment, skilled labour shortages, housing pressures, to affordability, with targeted policy solutions grounded in data:

• Expand the Student Work Placement Program to 60,000 positions annually

• Require a minimum of 10% apprentice hours on federally funded infrastructure projects

• Launch a Canada Student Housing Strategy with $1B in grants and loans for student residences and non-profit housing

• Inflation-adjust Tri-Council graduate scholarships to retain research talent

• Strengthen affordability through higher Canada Student Grant and loan limits

• Streamline co-op work requirements for international students to reduce red tape for both students and employers

As MPs return to Ottawa, CASA and UEQ stand ready to work with all parties to ensure students — and Canada — have the tools to succeed.

Read the full submission here