Increase annual support to the Post-Secondary Student Support Program.

What success looks like

Indigenous students have greater access to financial support, boosting their post-secondary education participation and completion rates.

Government's narrative on progress

The Government of Canada enhanced support for the Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP) for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, which helped meet the financial needs of an additional 4,600 Indigenous students attending post-secondary education. This funding was an interim step while the government undertook a review of federal support for Indigenous post-secondary students, to develop student-centered solutions to improve access and attainment. The review of post-secondary education programming was completed in the fall of 2018, and based on the results of this review ISC is working with its partners to develop distinctions-based post-secondary education strategies that respond to the different post-secondary education priorities of First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners. Changes have been made to the Post-Secondary Student Support Program, and University and College Entrance Preparation Program that reflect early engagement with the Assembly of First Nations and are consistent with Budget 2016 and Budget 2017 commitments. These changes improve program flexibility by: • increasing maximum amounts payable to individual students, to better respond to rising tuition costs; • expanding eligible expenditures to include transcript and application fees; • allowing students more time to complete their programs of study, by removing or adjusting limitations on duration of financial assistance; and • providing greater flexibility for students who wish to pursue more than one certificate or degree program. To support Indigenous students in having greater access to financial support to boost their post-secondary education participation and completion rates, additional efforts have been undertaken. Starting in the 2017-2018 academic year, Indigenous students are more likely to be eligible for support under the Canada Student Loans Program (CSLP) since funds they receive through PSSSP are no longer considered assets during their assessment. Learners who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, including status and non-status Indians, Métis, or Inuit) are exempt from making a fixed student contribution. This exemption means that Indigenous students will be eligible for more grant and loan funding and will have access to the full suite of CSLP supports to help with the costs of PSE. Budget 2017 proposed amendments to the *Canada Student Financial Assistance Act* which came into force on August 1, 2018 so that, starting in the 2018-2019 school year, students who are registered under the *Indian Act* but do not have Canadian citizenship can access the CSLP. Budget 2019 proposes a number of investments, starting in 2019–2020, to ensure that Indigenous students have better access to post-secondary education, and more support to ensure that they can succeed during their studies. This includes support for: • First Nations communities by investing $327.5 million over five years to renew and expand funding for the Post-Secondary Student Support Program while the government engages with First Nations on the development of long-term First Nations-led post-secondary education models. • An Inuit-led post-secondary education strategy through an investment of $125.5 million over ten years, and $21.8 million per year ongoing. • A Métis Nation-led post-secondary education strategy consisting of financial assistance for Métis Nations students through an investment of $362.0 million over ten years, and $40.0 million per year ongoing.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.