Permanently increase Indigenous post-secondary funding
Petitioners ask the Government to ensure all eligible First Nations, Inuit and Métis learners receive sufficient, predictable distinctions-based support by permanently increasing PSSSP, Inuit and Métis education funding before 2027 and indexing it to inflation.
Why we would sign this petition
- Provides stable, predictable, distinctions-based funding so eligible Indigenous learners can plan, enroll and complete post-secondary studies without abrupt funding gaps.
- Permanent increases before 2027 would address the petition’s aim to reduce attainment gaps, supporting community capacity-building and economic participation.
- Indexing funding to inflation protects purchasing power and helps ensure support keeps pace with rising education costs and demand.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Adds long-term fiscal commitments that could require cuts or reallocations elsewhere, raising questions about affordability and prioritization.
- Implementing distinctions-based, permanent expansions may be administratively complex and require governance or eligibility changes not detailed in the petition.
- More targeted or alternative measures (capacity-building, scholarships, retention programs) might achieve similar outcomes more efficiently or equitably.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Government of Canada The Government of Canada has recognized education as a treaty right; Sustained and adequate investment in Indigenous post-secondary education is a necessary commitment the Government has pledged to uphold through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 11; Indigenous students continue to face unequal access to post-secondary education, including due to insufficient federal funding; Programs such as the Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP) do not guarantee support for all eligible students, leaving thousands of qualified First Nations, Inuit, and Métis learners without funding; Current temporary expansions to PSSSP are set to expire at the end of the 2027 Budget year, creating uncertainty for students, communities, and program administrators; Strong improvements in high school graduation rates among First Nations students demonstrate growing readiness and demand for post-secondary education; Indigenous learners continue to obtain university degrees at significant lower rates than non-indigenous, limiting economic participation and community capacity-building; and Closing the post-secondary attainment gap is essential to strengthen Indigenous economies, supporting self-determination, and building a more prosperous and inclusive Canada. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to 1. Ensure that all eligible First Nations, Inuit, and Métis learners have access to sufficient, predictable, and distinctions-based financial support; 2. Permanently increase funding to the Post-Secondary Student Support Program, Inuit Education Strategy and Métis Education Strategy before their expiration in 2027 to ensure continuity and increased access for learners and communities; 3. Increase federal funding for Indigenous post-secondary student support programs, indexed to inflation.
Government response
No government response is available yet.