Budget 2024: Action Delivered on Housing, Affordability, and Funding While Students Urge Further Measures on PSE Inequality

OTTAWA—Yesterday, students tuned in to watch the Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, deliver Budget 2024 hopeful that the rhetoric matched the action of this government. In many ways, students were reflected in this budget, which saw historic victories that students advocated for and should be proud of for leading on.

Students are pleased to see action from the federal government that targets inaccessibility and unaffordability to post-secondary education (PSE). Budget 2024 is a much-needed improvement from Budget 2023 and presents a bold proposal for areas of PSE that students have long asked for. 

Graduate students, many of whom are at the forefront of innovative and world-leading research, saw a historic victory in the increase of funding for tri-council funding and the amount allocated. Significant funding specifically for student housing and student mental health were present that will aid on- and off-campus supports in communities across Canada for students for years to come. Budget 2024 also addresses significant concerns for student parents, students with disabilities, and mature students on issues with affordability and accessibility. We look forward to working with the government on the policy development of several key policies to ensure more victories are achieved in the years to come, including a focus to ensure funding for the Canada Student Grants Program is increased and extended further than the current funding model is committed to.

Many students are renters and are struggling to afford non-precarious living situations, especially international students, but the announced funding for student housing was absolutely necessary to provide relief to both domestic and international students. Although the funding announced for student housing and other key areas for students does not go as far as the Federation would hope, it is a good start to addressing the national housing crisis and we look forward to continuing to work with all levels of government to aid in delivering more funding and support for students.

Budget 2024 also addresses significant concerns for student parents, students with disabilities, and mature students on issues with affordability and accessibility. Comprehensive funding for student employment and skills training were introduced and will help more students find more opportunities to find better employment opportunities and advance their careers in their field of study.

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There are significant areas of concern for the Federation in Budget 2024 that neglect to offer direct support or investment in international students and there was no mention of a decision on the policy limiting off-campus working hours that expires in two weeks. Although the Federation has strongly opposed the recently announced cap on international students, we are happy to see a reduction from the originally announced 40% to 28%. We will be following up with Minister Marc Miller’s office on this major policy decision, with the hope of making international student off-campus working hours unlimited.

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We look forward to working with the government on the policy development of several key policies to ensure more victories are achieved in the years to come, including a focus to ensure funding for the Canada Student Grants Program is increased and extended further than the current funding model is committed to.

In Solidarity,

Canadian Federation of Students

The Canadian Federation of Students is the oldest and largest national student organization in Canada, representing over 500,000 college, undergraduate, and graduate students across the country.

For more information, please contact 

Kerenhappuch Gandu, Communication and Public Relations Officer, at k.job_gandu@cfs-fcee.ca

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