FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa, December 1, 2015 – The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) and Students Nova Scotia (StudentsNS) have completed a week of meetings in Nova Scotia, addressing issues pertaining to post-secondary education and youth. The focus of these meetings is too ensure Nova Scotian decision makers understand that students stand united both provincially and federally on a number of key issues.
“We are getting clear indications from the federal government that they want to work collaboratively with the provinces”, said Matthew Rios, Government and Stakeholder Relations Officer for CASA. “These meetings were a proactive effort on behalf of student leaders to discuss student issues that are both federal and provincial in scope.”
Staff from CASA and StudentsNS, along with student leaders met with three provincial ministers, the leader of the official opposition, and a number of members of the provincial legislature. Additionally, they met with administrators at Acadia University, St. Francis Xavier University, and St. Mary’s University. Throughout these meetings, youth employment, retention and residency, Indigenous education, mental health, and sexualized violence were identified as key issues for students and youth.
“This past week was a clear indication to us of the benefit of a close relationship with our federal partners,” said Nick Head-Petersen, Executive Director for StudentsNS. “Such partnerships allow us to discuss the issues facing students with a greater scope and provide a strong and united voice for students on both federal and provincial issues.”
This is merely the first of such meetings for these organizations. Partnership weeks have great potential in other provinces where provincial student organizations can partner with CASA. “Just as the federal government has indicated, we are willing to be partners as we continue to work with decision makers to create a strong provincial and federal post-secondary system”, said Head-Petersen.
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About CASA
Established in 1995, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit national student organization composed of 22 student associations representing 256,000 post-secondary students from coast to coast. CASA advocates for a Canadian post-secondary education system that is accessible, affordable, innovative, and of the highest quality.
About StudentsNS
Students Nova Scotia is a not-for-profit and non-partisan advocacy and research group that represents post-secondary students from across Nova Scotia. Our members include Acadia, Cape Breton, Saint Mary’s, and St. Francis Xavier Universities, the Kingstec and Annapolis Valley Campuses of the Nova Scotia Community College, and the Atlantic School of Theology.
FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
Matthew Rios, Government and Stakeholder Relations Officer
Email: [email protected]
Office: 613-236-3457 ext: 224
Mobile: 902-300-2102
Nick Head-Petersen, Executive Director, StudentsNS
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 902-293-7232