The University of Alberta Students’ Union, in collaboration with the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), is sounding the alarm over the implications of no long-term investment in the Canada Student Financial Assistance (CSFA) program. Since 2016, domestic tuition at the University of Alberta has risen by 34% (and much more in several programs), Edmonton's rent by 30%, and Alberta's food prices by over 40%, leaving students far more vulnerable than a decade ago.
"A cut to student financial assistance would make it very difficult for me to pay both my tuition and bills," said Amy, a fifth-year student at the University of Alberta. "I am a full-time student taking 5-6 classes per semester and have very little family support. A cut to grant and student loan funding would be very difficult for me to compensate for."
Over 700,000 students currently rely on CSFA to attend post-secondary institutions, including 50% of Canadian undergraduates at the University of Alberta. These reductions will affect students from up to 70% of Canadian families with children, including middle-class households, students with disabilities, and students who are parents.
In response to these concerns, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations and the University of Alberta Students’ Union have initiated a House of Commons e-petition calling on the federal government to prevent cuts to Canada Student Financial Assistance. The petition is open to signatures from students, alumni and members of the public.
"Rolling student aid back to 2016 is not a neutral reset," said Abdul Abbasi, UASU Vice President (External) and Chair of CASA, "it is a drastic cut to a tool that has supported students who face higher food, housing and tuition costs than a decade ago. The federal government can’t expect students to absorb 2016-level support while paying 2026-level costs. When housing and groceries are already pushing students to their limit, cutting CSFA will shut the door on post-secondary for tens of thousands and undermine the skilled workforce our economy depends on."
Government research has shown that every dollar invested in student financial assistance produces $1.64 in societal returns within the first ten years. Cutting CSFA, therefore, represents a withdrawal from one of the country’s most effective economic investments, at a time when changes to international student policy have made domestic enrollment more critical than ever.
"A cut to the CSFA would reduce my capacity to attend university and may cause me to have to leave school to work entry-level jobs for many years just to afford finishing my degree," said an anonymous second-year student at the University of Alberta. "Please listen to the students all across Canada who will be affected by this. With the scarcity of jobs currently and low student worker wages, paying for school will be a lot more difficult and add on to the stress of youth. I hope you will keep all of these students in mind."
The UASU therefore urges the Government of Canada to address long-term affordability for students through a permanent expansion of the Canada Student Financial Assistance program.
About the University of Alberta Students’ Union
The UASU is the official representative of 39,000 undergraduate students at the University of Alberta. It advocates for students’ needs and priorities to the University of Alberta and at all levels of government. For more information or to arrange an interview, contact externalrelations@uasu.ca
CASA Backgrounder
The Canada Student Financial Assistance Program (CSFA) has been a cornerstone of social mobility and workforce development. Expansions beginning in 2022 outside of the COVID-19 years significantly boosted enrollment among low- and middle-income students:
- Domestic participation increased by 6.7% among low- and middle-income learners following annual program growth.
- Recipients rose from 682,000 students in 2022-2023 to 728,000 in 2023-2024, demonstrating strong demand and effectiveness.
- Enrollment growth has been most pronounced among students from the lowest 40% of household incomes, groups historically underrepresented in post-secondary education.
Even with current levels of funding, students are struggling:
- 3% of domestic students experience homelessness.
- 36% skip meals because they cannot afford food.
- 28% of CSFA recipients report unmet financial need - a figure projected to rise to 55% if grants fall to $3000.
We project that a return to 2016 funding would:
- Risk post-secondary access for 180,000 students
- Leave more than 700,000 participants with reduced support after July 2026, and
- Increased the proportion of students unable to meet basic living costs from 208% to over half of all recipients.
The post-secondary sector requires stable domestic enrollment more than ever. International student admissions targets are now set at less than 25% of 2023 levels, and the government has already acknowledged that thousands of students are likely to drop out before their final year. Reducing CSFA will further destabilize campuses and local economies.
These decisions also deepen intergenerational inequity. Most post-secondary-aged Canadians face roughly three times the poverty rate of seniors, yet income-based senior benefits such as the Guaranteed Income Supplement are expanding while youth support declines.
KEY FACTS FOR JOURNALISTS
- If no re-investment occurs before July 2026, federal student aid will revert to 2016 levels, when:
- tuition was 20% lower,
- rent was 40% lower, and
- food prices were 30% lower than today.
- Over 700,000 Canadians rely on CSFA annually.
- Cuts will affect students from most families earning under $129,000 per year - the bottom 70% of earners, including the middle class.
- Each $1 spent returns $1.64 to society within ten years.
- 3% of domestic students are homeless; 36% skip meals due to cost.
- Since 2022 expansions, domestic access to post-secondary education has increased by 6.7% among low- and middle-income students.
- More than 350,000 student voters - with turnout over 50% - are expecting government action on affordability, not rollbacks.