During this unprecedented time, supporting students and recent graduates is more important than ever. At a uniquely vulnerable point in their lives, students have been blindsided by lost income, online classes, a summer of isolation, and bleak job prospects following graduation. While the Canadian post-secondary system is strong, students in Canada remain worried about their studies and financial stability moving forward. In light of this, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations has sought to bring forward a suite of recommendations that aim to alleviate student anxiety through additional financial support and enhanced access to technology and broadband necessary for online learning.
OTTAWA, July 22, 2020 -- The summer is nearing completion, and students are gearing up to return to their institutions for an unprecedented school year. The Canada Student Service Grant was initially launched on June 25th, 2020, with the goal of providing students grant-based financial assistance in return for summer volunteer work. The program has had a delayed implementation leaving thousands of students in the dark with little time remaining. It is now clear that the Canada Student Service Grant will be unable to fulfill its original purpose of providing financial aid to students over the summer. CASA is now calling on the Government of Canada to relocate these funds into stronger financial supports for post-secondary students returning to school.
OTTAWA, July 9, 2020 -- Canada’s Auditor General has released the 2020 Spring Report on Student Financial Assistance. The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) welcomes the recommendations in the report, and applauds the Auditor General's call to make additional financial literacy tools available for student borrowers. Broadly speaking, CASA found the results in the report to validate much of what post-secondary students say about their experiences with the loan system.
June 30, 2020
Daniel TherrienPrivacy Commissioner of CanadaOffice of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada 30 Victoria StreetGatineau, QCK1A 1H3
Re: Privacy concerns regarding the outsourcing of Canada Student Service Grant administration
On Friday, June 12, 2020, CASA presented to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. CASA believes the government's comprehensive student aid package will provide significant and generous relief for students, but more needs to be done. Specifically, CASA highlighted the lack of support for international students as well as the difficulties students will be facing moving forward. CASA called on the federal government to: extend the six-month interest-free moratorium on federal student loan payments past September 30, 2020; move forward with immediate steps to ensure that all post-secondary students have adequate access to reliable and high-speed internet; and, to commit additional funding to provide appropriate digital technology to any low-income student who needs it.
On Tuesday, June 9, 2020, CASA presented to the Senate National Finance Committee on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences. CASA believes the government's comprehensive student aid package will provide significant and generous relief for students, but more needs to be done. Specifically, CASA highlighted the lack of support for international students as well as the difficulties students will be facing moving forward. CASA called on the federal government to: extend the six-month interest-free moratorium on federal student loan payments past September 30, 2020; move forward with immediate steps to ensure that all post-secondary students have adequate access to reliable and high-speed internet; and, to commit additional funding to provide appropriate digital technology to any low-income student who needs it.
