Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $9-billion in financial aid for post-secondary students after claims that too many young people were falling through the cracks in existing COVID-19 support programs.
Eligible post-secondary students will get $1,250 a month from May to August as part of the new Canada Emergency Student Benefit. Students with a disability of those taking care of someone else will get a monthly cheque in the amount of $1,750.
College and university students currently in school, those who are planning to start in September, or those who graduated in December 2019 are eligible. The PM also said that working students earning less than $1,000 per month can also apply for this new benefit.
“To all the students watching today, let me say this: As you’re building your future, thinking about how to contribute, or about starting a family or career, all of a sudden you’re faced with a massive crisis,” Trudeau said.
“The uncertainly may feel overwhelming, but in Canada, we look out for each other. These measures will help you get through this, so you can build that career and future you’ve been looking forward to.”
As well, students who volunteer in the fight against COVID-19 over the summer will be paid between $1,000 and $5,000, depending on the hours they work.
“Your energy and your skills can do a lot of good right now,” Trudeau said, noting that new student jobs and grants are also on their way.
That includes more than $75-million to increase support for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Nation students, and doubling the student grants that the government gives out for the 2020-21 school year, and another $291 million to extend expiring federal graduate research scholarships and post-doctoral fellowships, while also supplementing existing federal research grants.
“For a lot of students, the month of May normally marks the start of a summer job. But right now it might be really tough to find something,” Trudeau said. “You may have been looking for weeks without any success.”
These benefit payments will be made through the Canada Revenue Agency. It will require additional legislation, and talks are now underway on how quickly a bill to implement this new program can be brought forward in Parliament.
