The federal government announced today a new student-aid package worth $9 billion.
The new Canada Emergency Student Benefit will provide $1,250 a month from May to August for students and recent graduates who are making $1,000 a month or less. This comes after critiques that the government’s Canada Emergency Response Benefit wouldn’t be available for many students.
If the student has a disability or is taking care of another person, the benefit will increase to $1,750 a month.
As well, a new Canada Student Service Grant will give up to $5,000 to student volunteers working in programs that are related to COVID-19.
The federal government has also committed to doubling Canada Student Grants for all eligible full-time students to up to $6,000 and for eligible part-time students to up to $3,600 in the 2020-21 academic year. The government will also double the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities and the Canada Student Grant for Students with Dependents.
The Canada Student Loans Program will also see changes in the 2020-21 academic year, with the maximum weekly amount that a student can get going from $210 to $350.
The existing distinctions-based support for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students will receive an additional $75.2 million in the 2020-21 academic year.
Also, the government has committed $291 million to federal granting councils for student researcher extensions. The government also said that it intends to enhance work opportunities for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows through the National Research Council of Canada, and that it will expand existing federal employment, skills development, and youth programming to create up to 116,000 jobs, placements, and training opportunities to assist students in finding employment and developing skills.