OP-ED COLUMN

Week of April 20, 2015

Supporting Canadian Students

By Garry Breitkreuz, M.P.
Yorkton-Melville

To help ensure Canada’s long-term economic prosperity, the Government of Canada knows that it is essential that Canadians have affordable access to the training and education they need to get well-paying jobs.

That’s why, in 2009, we created Canada Student Grants. This program gives students in low-and middle-income families financial assistance so they can achieve their post-secondary education and training goals. Canada Student Grants provides up to $250 per month for the duration of the skills training or education program or, for disabled students, up to $2,000 per academic year. And, because grants do not need to be repaid, this assistance helps keep them debt-free.

In 2012-2013, we increased the income eligibility threshold for part-time students so that more Canadians can take advantage of this assistance. In that same year, over 350,000 students received some form of assistance through Canada Student Grants.

Now, our government is building on that strong record of support. We’re enhancing Canada Student Grants by expanding the eligibility for students from low-and middle-income families to include short-duration programs. Beginning next year, these changes will help roughly 42,000 additional students per year – including Canadians looking to upgrade their skills to land a new or better job.

In addition to Canada Student Grants, our government continues to support a number of additional measures to help Canadians train and find employment in high-demand fields.

For example, our Canada Apprentice Loan is helping Red Seal trade apprentices with the costs they face during technical training by providing them with interest-free loans. And, as a part of the Youth Employment Strategy (YES), our government is providing up to 3,000 post-secondary grads with real-world, paid experiences in high-demand fields such as science, technology, engineering and the skilled trades.

By supporting post-secondary education and training, the Government of Canada is helping Canadians achieve their goals, and supporting a stronger and more prosperous economy.

Find out more about helpful programs to assist Canadian students by visiting: www.canlearn.ca.

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