First, I wish to thank you for having invited the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations. Our Alliance represents nearly 300,000 Canadian students of postsecondary school level.
A few weeks ago the government announced that it had secured $1 billion in budget savings over the next two years. The students we represent were shocked to hear that much of those savings were being cut from education and youth programs. Over the next two years we will see $17.1 million cut from literacy programs and $55.4 million from investment in youth employment.
Our members and the students of Canada have several concerns about the announced cuts. So CASA would like to discuss how Canada's post-secondary students will be affected. My colleague, Toby White, will run through our major concerns related to the recent announced cuts.