“Sexual violence has no place in our post-secondary institutions. The proposed legislation announced yesterday is a testament to what can be achieved when the lived experiences of students are included and acted on,” said Debi Herrera Lira, Chairperson of the BC Federation of Students (BCFS).  The BCFS welcomes the Government’s introduction of the Sexual Violence Policy Act and the accompanying Post-Secondary Sexual Violence Action Plan. 

International students studying in Canada have been kept anxiously waiting for news regarding the number of hours they will be able to work in 2024, until yesterday. Initially set to expire on December 31, 2023, the federal government announced an extension to its temporary policy that allows international students to work off-campus for more than 20 hours per week until the spring of 2024. The Federation applauds Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, for listening to thousands of students and advocates from across the country.

OTTAWA—Budget 2023 contains an investment of $814 million into the Canada Student Grant Program, allowing eligible students up to $4,200 in non-repayable student aid starting August 1. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, students received up to $3,000 in non-repayable student aid.

VANCOUVER—Students across Canada applaud the Federal government’s announcement of the elimination of interest on federal student loans. This change will bring fairness, economic growth, and, most importantly, relief to thousands of Canadian students already struggling with the costs of education.

Students from across Canada applaud the Liberal Government’s decision to lift the limits on the number of hours international students can work off campus. The program, which starts November 15, 2022, is slated to end December 31, 2023 and will allow the over 600,000 international students studying in Canada to increase the number of hours they can work off campus beyond 20 hours.

Students in British Columbia have joined the fight to remove financial barriers to accessing contraception. The Federation ratified its support for the AccessBC campaign, officially endorsing it during our 82nd Semi Annual General meeting on July 17, 2022. Together, we are calling on the provincial government to fulfill their electoral promise and make all prescription contraception free.

As you’ll remember the Federation and students across the province have been actively campaigning for the provincial government to undertake a major review of the funding model used for colleges and universities throughout the province, a process that has not been undertaken in nearly two decades.

The BC government’s 2020 Budget has students and educators celebrating the introduction of an up-front, needs-based student grant program. The BC Access Grant is the first of its kind in BC in nearly two decades, and will help reduce student loan debt for thousands of British Columbians every year.

We have exciting news! BC Budget 2020 has announced the creation of the BC Access Grant, which will give 40,000 students in the province up to $4,000 annually in non-repayable financial aid. This will not only help low- and middle-income people access the college and university training they need but also help students graduate with less debt.