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ADVOCACY WINS

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DECEMBER 7, 2021

Win: Ontario Expanding Employment Supports for Postsecondary Students With Disabilities

The Government of Ontario recently announced on this years International Day of Persons with Disabilities that they will be investing an additional $3 Million over three years in the David C. Onley Initiative to build capacity of postsecondary institutions across Ontario to prepare students with disabilities to transition into the workforce. This investment will help extend support to more learners through the creation of an online toolkit, providing a comprehensive roadmap that more institutions can use to help students with disabilities.

 

Additional supports will include:

 

  • Launching the AbleTo campaign to encourage employers to make workplaces accessible for employees with disabilities and support students and graduates with disabilities as they move into the workforce.

  • Coordinating workshops and accessible career showcase events for students with disabilities so they can explore job options with inclusive employers.

  • Facilitating recruitment opportunities and providing online resources like guidebooks, tip sheets and webinars to support job seekers, service providers, students and employers.

  • Piloting innovative strategies at postsecondary institutions to actively foster the growth and accessible opportunities for students with disabilities in career preparation and employability skills.

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February 12, 2021

Win: The Government of Canada allows international students to complete 100% of their programs online while still being eligible for their Post-Graduate Work Permit

CSA applauds the federal government for taking further action to support international students. International students are an integral part of our communities and contribute significantly to our country and our post-secondary system, all the while the pandemic has created serious challenges for them. This policy change comes after CSA sent a joint-letter to the Government of Canada in December 2020 calling for the extension of post-graduate work permits. CSA is glad to see the need for supports for international students acknowledged, this will help to reduce the negative effects the pandemic has on international students by increasing access to work permits.

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February 9, 2021

Win: The Government of Ontario invests an additional $7 million into mental health supports for post-secondary students.

The Government of Ontario announced that they will be providing an additional $7 million, for a total of $26.25 million, to help increase access to mental health and addiction services for postsecondary students during COVID-19. This is an important investment considering how COVID-19 has exacerbated mental health issues for our college students. The funding will provide more supports for students, both on-campus and virtually, and can also be used to address the needs of vulnerable and diverse groups, such as Indigenous students, LGBTQ students, and students with disabilities. CSA has been consistently advocating for increased funding for PSE mental health supports, we are delighted to see the mental health needs of students being addressed and are looking forward to additional investments in the future.

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January 27, 2021

Win: The Government of Ontario announced amendments to strengthen sexual violence policies at post-secondary institutions to better protect survivors of sexual violence

CSA is delighted to see the need for survivor-centric sexual violence policies addressed at post-secondary institutions, with the recent amendments to Regulation 131/16. The recent amendments provide additional safeguards will be enforced at all postsecondary institutions in Ontario. In previous government submissions, CSA has highlighted the ​need for further government oversight from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to ensure that all sexual violence prevention policies at institutions are comprehensive and effective,​ and do not cause further harm or retraumatization. CSA is hopeful that these changes will spark further dialogue on how sexual violence policies can more effectively address the needs of students through a survivor-centric and intersectional lens.

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DECEMBER 11, 2020

Win: The Ontario Government announces an investment in a Virtual Learning Strategy for Post-Secondary Education.

The Government announced a $50 million investment into a Virtual Learning Strategy that will enhance virtual learning at Ontario’s publicly-assisted colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes and will improve the virtual learning experience for Ontario’s students. This past August, CSA participated in a consultation with the Ministry of College and Universities on Virtual Learning and recommended that the provincial government create standards for virtual-hybrid course delivery at colleges and provide resources to develop institutional expertise and faculty education in virtual delivery that would help advance high quality virtual education at Ontario colleges. CSA is delighted to see this recommendation acknowledged, and we are hopeful that this strategy will address the specific learning needs of students with disabilities, mature students, Indigenous students, international students, and students in rural and remote areas.

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