Federal Budget Submission

Each year UCRU submits our recommendations on how money in the Federal Budget can be allocated to address student needs. This year we recommend:

Student Financial Aid

Permanently eliminate interest accruals on federal student loans by investing $551.3 million year over year
Invest in the Canada Student Grants such that the maximum receivable is permanently increased from $3,000 to $6,000.
Permanently increase the Repayment Assistance Plan threshold from $40,000 to 50,000.

Student Employment

Develop international student-specific streams within the framework of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy and the Canada Summer Jobs program.
Increase work-integrated learning opportunities for international and domestic students alike by reinvesting $239.8 million into the Student Work Placement Program.
Amend the Canadian Experience Class (Express Entry) program such that international students are able to count part-time employment experience while they are full-time students towards their permanent residency.

Mental Health

Make targeted investments into student and youth-centric digital mental health initiatives by providing the provinces with matched investments.

Mental Health

Recommendation 1:That the Federal Government establish a4-year Post-Secondary Mental Health Infrastructure Fund (based off the success of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund) to provide direct capital and short-term operational funding to applicant post-secondary institutions and affiliate student associations to establish high-quality, affordable, and accessible mental health networks, supports, programs, and initiatives for students.

International Students

Recommendation 2:Amend the Canadian Experience Class(Express Entry) program such that international students are able to count part-time employment experience while they are full-time students towards their permanent residency.
Recommendation 3:That the Federal Government makes the one-year pilot program lifting the 20 hour work cap for international students permanent
Recommendation 4:That the Federal Government renew the Building on Success: International Education Strategy In addition to increasing the $147.9 million budget and $8 million per year ongoingly to $165.6 million and $8 million per year for the next 5years to reflect the current numbers of international students in Canada.

Student Financial Aid

Recommendation 5:That the Federal Government continue to fund the Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP) beyond2024.
Recommendation 6:That the Federal Government maintain the increase to $4,200/year maximum on the Canada Student Grants program from the previous pre-COVID-19 maximum of $3,000/year.

Housing

Recommendation 7:That the Federal Government develop an initiative to finance the construction of purpose-built student housing in the vicinity of post-secondary institutions with $800million in mixed funding models ($560M in grants (70%), $240M in loans (30%)).