Ottawa, December 16th, 2024 - Today, the Government of Canada tabled the 2024 Fall Economic Statement in the House of Commons. The Canadian Alliance of Students Association (CASA) and Quebec Student Union (QSU) acknowledge the ongoing impacts of earlier 2024 investments in housing, student aid, and research. These actions will continue to have impacts on student affordability and workforce development. 

CASA welcomed the significant investments in students announced in Budget 2024 and post-secondary students were paying close attention to this Fall Economic Statement, since elevated levels of federal student aid expire in 2025. Similarly, investments in programs like the Student Work Placement Program, and the Post-secondary Student Support Program are non-permanent. Additionally, federal research funds for graduate students remain unindexed to the rising cost of living. The absence of long-term, sustainable funding poses an imperative impact on many crucial investments made in Budget 2024 for post-secondary students.

“The Fall Economic Statement was an opportunity to show students that long-term investment in post-secondary education can bolster Canada’s future workforce,” said Nelson Chukwuma, Chair of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations. “Missing this chance to prioritize stable funding is a missed investment in Canada’s innovation and productivity.”

In addition, CASA and QSU look forward to further details on the capstone research funding organization in the coming months as students have been advocating for representation on governing bodies of research granting agencies. 

“C’est décevant pour la communauté étudiante qui attend encore des clarifications concernant les annonces du budget du printemps passé en ce qui concerne la nouvelle organisation cadre pour la recherche,” added Étienne Paré, Président de l’Union Étudiante du Québec/Quebec Student Union. 

CASA will continue to work diligently and advocate on its priorities to ensure we power productivity and innovation in Canada through the access and excellence of post-secondary education.

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About CASA        

Established in 1995, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations is a non-partisan, not-for-profit national student organization composed of 26 student associations across the country. Through our partnership with the Quebec Student Union/Union étudiante du Québec, CASA represents 390,000 post-secondary students across Canada. 

About QSU 

The Quebec Student Union mission is to defend the rights and interests of the student community, of its member associations, and of their members, by promoting, protecting, and ameliorating the conditions of students and those of local and international communities. The QSU represents more than 91,000 members from university campuses across Quebec.  

CONTACT INFORMATION:

• Wasiimah Joomun - Executive Director for the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations: 343-55-7189 or [email protected]
• Alexandre Ducharme -  Political and Press Advisor  for the Quebec Student Union: (514) 497-2602 or [email protected]