Students Meet in Ottawa to Fight Debt

Student representatives are sitting down with Ottawa’s senators and Members of Parliament (MPs) to discuss the growing issue of student debt in Canada.

More than 60 student leaders and members of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) from across Canada met with more than 130 MPs and Senators to discuss issues facing Canada’s college and university students.

“With Canada’s population aging and with the labour force in decline, we must focus on Canada’s youth, as we are the key to the nation’s future,” said Pat Joyce, Chair of the Board of Directors for CASA.

“The success of students is critical to sustained economic growth and the overall wellbeing of the country.”

Discussion topics included:

• The removal of earnings penalties for students
• Allowing Open Access to publicly-funded research
• The need to increase funding for the Canada Student Grants Program

“We’re excited to be speaking to government officials on a number of important issues, but what is most critical is the need to have more students with less debt,” said Joyce.

“It is important that MPs and Senators make sure post-secondary education (is) a priority in the government, and ensure its accessibility for all Canadians.”