OTTAWA, August 2, 2022 - Post-secondary education is crucial to long-term career success, regardless of which industry or career a person wishes to pursue. That is why the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) strives to ensure every student can access affordable post-secondary education. CASA is pleased with today’s Government announcement of increased eligibility under the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program (CSFA Program) for students with disabilities.
The Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, has announced new measures under the CSFA Program. As of August 1, 2022, with the Government extended disability supports under the CSFA Program to include those with a persistent or prolonged disability. Additionally, the Government has increased flexibility for documentation that can be accepted when applying for CSFA Program disability supports.
"Expanding the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program to include students with persistent or prolonged disabilities is an important step in improving equitable access to post-secondary education across Canada.” said Chair of the Board of CASA and Vice President External of the University of Alberta Students' Union, Christian Fotang. “Recognizing the lived experiences of students with disabilities is key to ensuring that post-secondary education is accessible, affordable, innovative, and of the highest quality."
An estimated 40,000 recipients whose disabilities are persistent or prolonged will benefit each year from this expanded disability support from the CSFA Program. Eligible students with a disability, now including persistent or prolonged disabilities, could have access to up to $24,000 in grants, in-study supports, and specialized repayment assistance on their loans. Having these additional supports ready for the start of this fall semester will be a great help to students.
“Making these more accessible to students with persistent and prolonged disabilities and increasing the flexibility for documentation will go a long way for students accessing funding,” said CASA’s Executive Director, Mackenzy Metcalfe. “CASA is pleased to see the Minister expanding supports for students with disabilities and hopes to see continued work towards making the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program more accessible for all students in need.”
Learn more on the Government of Canada Website.
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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 24 student associations representing 75,000 post-secondary students from coast to coast. With its partnership with the Quebec Student Union (QSU), CASA represents a total of 365,000 students across Canada and presents a national student voice to the federal government. CASA advocates for a Canadian post-secondary education system that is accessible, affordable, innovative, and of the highest quality.
Contact:
Mackenzy Metcalfe
Executive Director
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 226-347-7656
James Caldwell
Government and Stakeholder Relations Officer
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 613-236-3457
