SFSS Recommendations to the Federal Government 2020-21 INTRODUCTION The Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) is a Canada Energy Regulator) on the reconsideration student-led non-profit organisation that represents of the Trans Mountain pipeline project, and in over 25,000 undergraduate students across MP Peter Julian’s letter of endorsement for the the three campuses of Simon Fraser University Burnaby Mountain Gondola to the Mayor of (SFU) in Burnaby, Vancouver and Surrey, British Burnaby regarding the Board’s support of the Columbia. Our mission is to advocate for students, project; build student power, and provide resources and services that represent, connect, and benefit our • Successfully recommending that the Canada membership. Energy Regulator revise Condition 124 of the Trans Mountain Expansion project to incorporate The SFSS is governed by an elected Board of stakeholder consultation into the Emergency Directors comprised of 16 undergraduate students. Management Program for the project; Board Committees and Student Council, as well as permanent staff, help the SFSS achieve our • Being recognized by the Honourable Carla mission daily. The External and Community Affairs Qualtrough, Canadian Minister of Accessibility, Committee of the SFSS works to identify and as the first university in Canada to meet with prioritize issues of undergraduate student concern members of the Canadian government in Ottawa and advocate on students’ behalf to external to advocate for students with disabilities; bodies, including the Government of Canada. Since 2018, we have made the following achievements: • Working with other BC student associations, post- secondary institutions and TransLink to renew • Successfully lobbying the provincial government the U-Pass program until 2025, ensuring rates are to eliminate interest on the provincial portion kept affordable for students; of student loans, saving graduates an estimated $22 million in 2019/2020; • Lobbying the provincial government to re- introduce upfront, needs-based grants for • Lobbying the provincial government for $5 students, resulting in the new B.C. Access Grant million in funding towards open education that provides 40,000 students up to $1,000 a year resources (OERs), of which $3.26 million was for four-year programs; and pledged in 2019; • Lobbying the federal government to consider • Advising the provincial government on the broadening eligibility requirements for the CERB housing affordability issues faced by SFU to include students, leading to the proposed students, resulting in a $73 million loan being introduction of the CESB to support students allocated towards building on-campus student struggling to find work during the COVID-19 housing at SFU, providing an additional 1,971 pandemic beds; The following report provides the SFSS’ • Receiving recognition in both MP Terry Beech’s recommendations to the Province on issues that “Condensed Policy Timeline for the Burnaby are most important to our members. For more Mountain Tank Farm” regarding the Board’s information, please contact Samad Raza, VP letter to the National Energy Board (now the External Relations, at [email protected]. Eliminate interest on the federal portion of Canada Student Loans indefinitely Background Rationale Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the variable The cost of education – including tuition, student interest rate for federal student loans in Canada fees, books, and living expenses – is rising much sat at prime, which was lowered from prime faster than inflation and income levels. The result is +2.5% in November 2019¹. Comparatively, variable a significant debt burden on students. For students mortgage rates are as low as prime -1.0% as of graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic, the December 2020. Normally, students are required economic implications are dire – a 2019 RBC study to begin paying back their loans six months after found that recent university graduates that received completing their education, at which time interest their degree during a recession were more likely to would begin to accrue on the loan. However, a be under- or unemployed compared to their peers, temporary suspension of Canada Student Loan increasing the chance of wage losses in the long interest in light of the COVID-19 pandemic has term⁴. These graduates are less likely to buy houses, been extended to the 2021/2022 year, as detailed save for retirement or emergencies, have children, in the Fall Economic Statement 2020². and contribute to the economy. As university graduates earn, on average, 58.0% more for women Student repayment of debt has a monumental and 47.2% more for men than those with a high impact on the economy - more than one in ten school diploma, the consequences of graduating in Canada Student Loans Program recipients default an economic downturn are considerable⁵. In 2015, on their loans, creating $163 million in written off 54% of new graduates with a Bachelor’s degree left loans for the Canadian government in 2019³. school with student loan debt averaging $28,000, an increase of 37% since 2000⁶. Eliminating student One in ten Canada loan interest not only relieves some of this debt Student Loans burden for students – it demonstrates the Program recipients Government of Canada’s commitment to student default on their loans success. New graduates can accumulate a significant amount of financial debt due to interest charged on their loans, which particularly disadvantages low-income and marginalized graduates early in their careers. To ease the financial burden of student debt during the economic recovery, the SFSS supports making the temporary suspension of the federal portion of Canada Student Loans interest permanent. This would ease the burden of loan repayment for students and thus reduce the financial burden of defaulted loans on the Government of Canada. Provide $375 million in permanent funds for a Transit Congestion Relief Fund for Metro Vancouver Background TransLink, the transit authority and operator in Investments in public transit in Metro Vancouver not Metro Vancouver, provides a discounted transit only support the building of a greener and more pass for students across the region. Nearly 95 innovative economy, but students’ academic futures percent of SFU undergraduate students consider and well-being. Increasing demand, long wait times reliable TransLink services important or very and unpredictable weather conditions often pose a important⁷. This figure is unsurprising, as 88 challenge for students travelling to SFU campuses percent of SFU students regularly commute to by public transit. Two project proposals made by school on public transit, compared to the national TransLink can reduce wait times and connections for average of 57 percent⁸. Furthermore, SFU SFU students – the Surrey Langley SkyTrain and the students have an average transit commute time Burnaby Mountain Gondola Project. of 95 minutes roundtrip, compared to the national average of just 50 minutes. 95% of SFU undergraduate students consider TransLink services Surrey Langley SkyTrain & the important or very important Burnaby Mountain Gondola Project can reduce commute times for SFU undergraduate students 88% of SFU undergraduate students Both projects would provide students with reliable commute to school and sustainable transportation options, regardless of weather, helping to connect SFU’s two largest campuses. The SFSS supports the provision of permanent funds of $3 billion in 2019 dollars for Average Transit Commute Time public transit in British Columbia, with $375 million from this fund committed to a Transit Congestion 95 mins Relief Fund for Metro Vancouver as requested by SFU undergraduate students the Metro Vancouver Mayors’ Council⁹ to subsidise 50 mins these projects, among others. The SFSS is extremely National average pleased that the Government of Canada has pledged 02 04 06 08 0 100 0 20 40 60 80 100 to spend $14.9 billion on public transit across the Minutes country, including permanent transit funding of $3 Provide $375 million in permanent funds for a Transit Congestion Relief Fund for Metro Vancouver billion per year beginning in 2026¹⁰, and we hope some of this funding will be dedicated to a Transit Congestion Relief Fund for our region. Rationale Sustainable transportation, which includes public transit, active transportation such as walking or biking, and even carpooling, has been shown to have many benefits, including contributing less to pollution, reducing traffic congestion and accidents, improving health, and reducing stress¹¹. Transit- oriented development is a key driving force of both sustainable mobility and sustainable urbanization¹². Increasing funding for public transit would allow for not only more sustainable transit development, but greener and more resilient land use and urban development planning Metro Vancouver, Canada’s third largest metropolitan area. As per the integrated bilateral agreement between Infrastructure Canada and the Province of British Columbia, the Government of Canada is expected to contribute 40 percent towards new public transit construction and expansion¹³. Build back a better Canada post-pandemic by integrating the Six Principles of a Just Recovery Background While we recognize domestic students can now receive the Canadian Emergency Student Benefit In April 2020, the SFSS administered a survey (CESB), providing them up to $1,250 per month and to all undergraduate students at SFU to better $2,000 for students with disabilities or dependents, understand how