Students Meet with Prime Minister Harper

OTTAWA, March 10 /CNW Telbec/ - Student representatives from across Canada met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper today to discuss the many issues facing the post-secondary education system in Canada.

"We are extremely pleased that the Prime Minister made time to meet with students again this year," said Arati Sharma, National Director of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations. "The federal government's emphasis on creating a knowledge-based economy in Canada greatly depends on the effectiveness of its post-secondary education system. Last week's Budget outlined some important steps to help Canadian researchers and students. We look forward to working with the government on further steps to ensure that Canada's post-secondary system is accessible and effective."

Members of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations gathered in Ottawa this week to meet with over 130 Members of Parliament, Senators and government officials, to discuss critical changes to the student financial aid system, further investments in First Nations education and a redistribution of graduate scholarships.

The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit national student organization composed of 25 student associations, representing over 300,000 students from coast to coast.

For further information: or to arrange an interview, please contact: Jillian Flake, Public Relations and Communications Officer, Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, Tel.: [phone] ext. 224, (c) [phone], Email: [email protected]