Government Misses Opportunity to Invest in the Future

OTTAWA, March 29, 2012 /CNW/ - Students are concerned that the federal budget missed an opportunity to invest in post-secondary education programs that would support the individuals who will drive growth and innovation in the coming years.

"Funding aimed at bridging academic research and the private sector would have been more effectively spent with improved financial assistance for students," said Zach Dayler, National Director of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA).

The federal government reallocated funding from the research granting councils into creating opportunities for industry-academic research partnership initiatives. An investment of $15 million in each of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) will support strategies for Patient-Oriented Research and Partnerships and Innovation, respectively. Investments were also made to the Youth Employment Strategy, this will help young Canadians effectively transition into the workplace.

"CASA made realistic recommendations about low-cost solutions to enhance accessibility for education in the short-term to address problems in the long term," added Dayler. "The government has made investments that will support some students in a focused manner, but primarily those who have already shown they can get to college or university." 

The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit national student organization with 27 student associations, representing over 320,000 students from coast to coast.

or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Rob LeForte, Government Relations Officer
Canadian Alliance of Student Associations
Tel.: [phone] ext. 221 (c) 613-720-5726
Email: [email protected]