Changes to student grants could affect rural, remote communities
‘Opportunities in more rural areas of the country can be limited, and it is important that we do not negatively impact those seeking to live, work and thrive at home,’ says Conservative MP Carol Anstey, speaking on changes to the student grant eligibility. / FACEBOOK PHOTO
Changes to federal student grant eligibility could have significant consequences for rural, remote and coastal communities, particularly in Newfoundland and Labrador, says Conservative MP Carol Anstey.
“Financial assistance for students from rural, remote and coastal communities, where access is limited and the cost of post-secondary education is often higher, is extremely important,” she said during debate on a motion to concur in a report from the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
The report, related to the committee’s study on the Distribution of Federal Student Grants, requested that the “government reconsider its policy in the distribution of student grants based on the type of regulated institution where students are studying. The federal government should align with decisions about eligible institutions made by the provinces and territories.”
Budget 2025 made changes to the Canada student grant program that would see grants provided to full-time students attending public educational institutions and not-for-profit private institutions and no longer to private post-secondary institutions like career colleges and vocational schools.
Anstey emphasized the importance of maintaining access for students outside major urban centres. She warned that many students rely on grants to pursue education that is not always available locally, and argued that restricting eligibility based on institution type could reduce access to training pathways that are closely tied to regional labour needs.
Anstey, who represents Long Range Mountains, Nfld., also linked the issue to broader demographic and economic pressures in her province, including workforce shortages and an aging population. She said the policy could discourage participation in practical training programs that help students transition quickly into employment.
“Removing grant eligibility for these career colleges will discourage enrolment, increase financial barriers and limit opportunities for lower- and middle-income Canadians who are seeking to improve their circumstances through education,” she said.
She pointed to Newfoundland and Labrador institutions such as Academy Canada and Keyin College as examples of regulated providers that support job-ready training aligned with local demand, particularly in rural communities where options are limited.
Anstey also shared personal experience, describing how a career-focused program allowed her to obtain employment locally after finding her university degree insufficient for available jobs in her home community. “It was a practical, career-focused program that allowed me to enter the workforce with the skills I needed to support my family,” she said.
“Opportunities in more rural areas of the country can be limited, and it is important that we do not negatively impact those seeking to live, work and thrive at home. Limiting access to student grants for these institutions will disproportionately impact those communities where opportunities are already more difficult to access. These institutions are part of a broader, collaborative post-secondary system. They are regulated at the provincial level, are operated under established frameworks and work alongside public institutions to meet local labour market needs.
Anstey highlighted the broader issue of youth retention in rural regions. “Far too often, our young people leave their homes, their families and their neighbours to go to the mainland to pursue their education. The harsh reality is that in a lot of cases, they never come back,” she said. “Opportunities in more rural areas of the country can be limited, and it is important that we do not negatively impact those seeking to live, work and thrive at home. Limiting access to student grants for these institutions will disproportionately impact those communities where opportunities are already more difficult to access. These institutions are part of a broader, collaborative post-secondary system. They are regulated at the provincial level, are operated under established frameworks and work alongside public institutions to meet local labour market needs.”
She argued that federal policy should better reflect provincial systems and regional realities to avoid widening gaps in access to education and opportunity in rural Canada.
