This translation has been automatically generated and has not been verified for accuracy.Student unions from postsecondary institutions across Canada, representing almost 900,000 students, have joined forces in an attempt to get the federal parties to consider their priorities in the run-up to this October’s election.
“What we’re really trying to do with this letter is bring these priorities to the centre stage of the federal election and make them an important issue that federal parties have to be talking about if they want to win students votes,” said Cat Dunne, vice-president of the University of Western Ontario’s students’ council.
“Education is the driving factor of what reconciliation can look like in the future,” said Mr. Ratt-Misponas, who is Nehiyaw and a member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. Educational opportunities are crucial to improving the economic and social conditions of Indigenous peoples, he said, and he sees this student priority as aligning with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
The student unions also want to see an elimination of interest on federal student loans and the reallocation of a portion of the $1.5-billion in tuition tax credits, little used by low- and middle-income students, toward upfront grants administered by the Canada Student Loans program. “It’s just frustrating because the government is supposed to be on our side – they should be taking action in ways to actually benefit citizens, especially people from marginalized backgrounds," Ms. Omolade said.
globepolitics AND I GUESS THE 'HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSING!!' CCCP COMMUNIST CHINESE STUDENT BODY WILL BE ALLOWED TO TERRORIZE THE OTHER 'FREEDOM+DEMOCRACY LOVING!!' STUDENT UNIONS IN CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES AND WE ALL KNOW WHERE 'CASH FOR ACCESS!'SHADY DEALS!!''COMMUNIST CHINESE STATUE!!''NATIONAL
globepolitics Oh god please no
globepolitics That's an interesting way to say 'please use force to take from the tax payer'