The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) welcomes the federal government’s decision to continue the current Canada Student Grant amount for another year, keeping the maximum at $4,200 instead of allowing it to fall back to $3,000.
Students, academic staff and allies have pushed back against cuts to the Canada Student Grant, making clear that students need more financial support, not less.
CAUT urges the federal government to make the $4,200 Canada Student Grant permanent and increase it further to reflect the actual cost of post-secondary education.
“By extending increased grant support for another year, the government is providing a lifeline for students struggling with rising tuition costs. But it is not a long-term solution,” said David Robinson, CAUT executive director. “Students deserve stable, predictable and adequate financial support, not uncertainty.”
Forty-eight per cent of Canadian students struggle with tuition costs. Yet several provincial governments are shifting more costs onto students and families, adding financial pressure on low-income households.
When the federal government raised the maximum amount of the Canada Student Grant to $4,200 in 2019, it acknowledged the rising costs of living and post-secondary education, which have only continued to rise since then.
Over the past seven years, inflation has surged to record levels, and the average domestic undergraduate fee has approached $8,000.
“Preserving vital student financial assistance is a step in the right direction, but the federal government must further increase grant support for students and work with provinces to strengthen public universities and colleges.”
