Many students rely on work to get them through school and are counting on jobs after they graduate. COVID-19 has halted many of these plans. The Government of Canada is ensuring students have the support they need through:
- Interest-free moratorium on student loan payments for six months (up to Sep. 30th, 2020)
- The Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB), providing financial support to students and new graduates
- Eligible applicants will receive up to $1,250/mo
- Eligible applicants with dependents or disabilities will receive up to $2,000/mo
- This benefit will provide support from May through August and is meant for those not eligible for CERB
- The Canada Student Service Grant, helping students gain work experience and skills while delivering important services as part of their community’s COVID-19 response
- This grant will provide up to $5,000 for a student’s education in the fall for those who work in national service positions through organizations within their community
- The Canada Service Corps, connecting youth with opportunities to serve their communities
- Will give micro-grants for youth to design and lead service projects responding to COVID-19 in their communities
- Will increase the number of micro-grants available from 1,800 to 15,000 for people aged 15-30
- Expanding existing federal employment, skills development, and youth programming to create up to 116,000 jobs and placements to help students find employment and develop valuable skills
- Doubling the Canada Student Grants for all eligible students, including for students with permanent disabilities and students with dependents, in 2020-21
- Eligible full-time students can receive up to $6,000
- Eligible part-time students can receive up to $3,600
- Expanding eligibility for student financial assistance by removing the expected student and spouse contributions in 2020-21
- Raising the maximum weekly amount that can be provided to a student in 2020-21 through the Canada Student Loans Program
- This will raise the amount to $350/week, up from $210/week
- Providing an additional $75.2 million in distinctions-based support for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Nation students pursuing post-secondary education
- Providing $291.6 million to the federal granting councils to extend expiring federal graduate research scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships, and supplement existing federal research grants to support students and post-doctoral fellows
- Enhancing work opportunities for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows through the National Research Council of Canada
- The above supports are available to ALL Canadian students
Lastly, I want you to know that my team and I are here to help you in any way we can. While our offices are closed, we can be reached at hedy.fry@parl.gc.ca or 604-666-0135.
This emergency situation is rapidly evolving, for the latest information on COVID-19 please go to www.canada.ca/coronavirus
Best wishes,
Hon. Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P.
Vancouver Centre
