OTTAWA, April 16th, 2021 - The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) is excited to release a joint publication, Shared Perspectives: Supporting Students During and After COVID-19 with the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance and  eight provincial student organizations. It provides a snapshot of the experiences faced by post-secondary students from coast to coast. Shared Perspectives identifies student specific issues and advocates for solutions such as increased work-integrated learning opportunities, increased access to education for students from underrepresented demographics and improved student financial aid programs. In these unique times CASA is proud to create in collaboration with partners a publication to generate discussion on how post secondary institutions, governments and stakeholders can best serve students' needs.

“Whether students are struggling to access financial assistance, job opportunities, or are faced systemic inequalities, it is clear that COVID-19 will remain a relevant factor in Canadian post-secondary education for the foreseeable future” says CASA’s Executive Director Kalin McCluskey, “these problems reflect the urgent need to support students and recent graduates at this uniquely vulnerable point in their lives”. 

CASA recognizes the unprecedented level of spending on post-secondary students by the federal government including the doubling of all Canada Student Grants and the establishment of the Canadian Emergency Student Benefit. We will continue to advocate for continued support for students during our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shared Perspectives: Supporting Students During and After COVID-19 includes contributions from: Alliance of BC Students, College Student Alliance, Council of Alberta University Students, Manitoba Alliance of Post-Secondary Students, New Brunswick Student Alliance, Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, Students Nova Scotia, University of Prince Edward Island Student Union and Quebec Student Union.