A new federal benefit would offer $1,250 a month for eligible students affected by lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Canada Emergency Student Benefit would provide $1,250 per month for eligible students or $1,750 per month for eligible students with dependents or disabilities, and would be available from May 1 to August 2020 through the Canada Revenue Agency.
Speaking Wednesday at his daily news conference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said any student enrolled in a post-secondary institution who makes less than $1,000 will be eligible for the new benefit.
Reaching more students
Trudeau said while many students are eligible for new programs brought in over the last few weeks, such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, many aren’t.
“COVID-19 has meant that there aren’t as many jobs out there for students, and without a job, it can be hard to pay for tuition or the day-to-day basics,” he said. “You might normally have turned to your parents for help, but right now mom and dad are stretched, too. And even if monthly bills aren’t the concern, you may have been counting on the summer job for next year’s tuition or to get the right experience for your career.”
Though the government has been thin on details about the benefit, as legislation is required to pass through Parliament before the application process can begin, Minister of Employment Carla Qualtrough confirmed that all students enrolled to attend any post-secondary education institution in September — including colleges, universities and programs like Quebec’s CEGEP — even those just finishing high school or those who have taken time off school prior to the fall 2020 semester can apply.
The program would also be available to those who are enrolled to study abroad, as long as they are in Canada over the summer, Qualtrough said.
The benefit is available only to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Other measures
Trudeau on Wednesday also announced a number of other new measures aimed at students, which together with the Canada Emergency Student Benefit will equate to nearly $9 billion in support. Those include:
• The introduction of a new Canada Student Service Grant will provide $5,000 toward education expenses for students who volunteer to help their communities during the pandemic.
• The expansion of existing federal employment, skills development and youth programming to create up to 116,000 jobs, placements, and other training opportunities for students focusing on essential services such as agriculture, food services, health care and community organizations.
• Doubling Canada Student Grants for all eligible full-time students to up to $6,000, and up to $3,600 for part-time students, in 2020-21 and doubling grants for students with disabilities or dependents.
• Expanding the Canada Student Loans Program by raising the maximum weekly amount that can be provided to a student in 2020-21 from $210 to $350.
• Extending expiring federal graduate research scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships, and supplement existing federal research grants, to support students and postdoctoral fellows.
• Increasing existing support for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation students pursuing post-secondary education by providing an additional $75.2 million in 2020-21.
• Broadening eligibility for student financial assistance by removing the expected student’s and spouse’s contributions in 2020-21.
