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e-2680 (Government services and administration)
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the Government of Canada
- Graduate students face unique challenges as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, including loss of research assistantships and fellowships, delays in program completion, and dwindling job market prospects;
- Graduate students are expected to pay year-round tuition (without a summer hiatus);
- Most graduate students are older than undergraduate students and live independently, with the same cost of living as other workers in Canada;
- Most graduate students are ineligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit;
- The Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) is limited to students who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents and make less than $1000 per month, despite this amount being insufficient to meet costs of living without the added burden of tuition payments;
- The CESB fails to provide support to most graduate students, many of whom are ineligible either due to having an income above $1000 per month, or being international students without permanent resident status;
- Taking a leave of absence to avoid paying summer tuition would create untenable disruptions in income, learning, and research for many graduate students; and
- The Canada Student Service Benefit, which is the sole benefit extended to international students, would require them to work in high-risk front-line jobs while attempting to complete their studies.
Response by the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): IREK KUSMIERCZYK
The Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) provided emergency financial relief to students and recent graduates who were unable to work, or unable to find work, due to reasons related to COVID-19. It was also available to those who were working but not making more than $1,000 (before taxes) over the four-week period for which they applied. The CESB was available from May 10 to August 29, 2020 and provided more than $2.93B of financial relief to over 708,000 eligible recipients.
Parliament approved the Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act to introduce CESB and its eligibility parameters, which mirrored those of the Canada Student Loans Program (CSLP). While international students did not qualify for the CESB, the Government of Canada recognized the needs of international students living in Canada and has taken action to support them. Notably, international students were eligible to receive the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), provided they met the eligibility criteria including they were residing in Canada at the time and earned a minimum of $5000 in the last 12 months or 2019. In February, approximately 40 percent of students in Canada were working, which included international students. This indicates that a significant number of students were in fact eligible to receive the CERB. Adjustments were also made to allow international students to work more while they are studying.
The Government of Canada also introduced other measures to benefit students. All students, including graduate students, who are repaying their Canada Student Loans (CSLs) or Canada Apprentice Loans benefitted from a six-month interest-free repayment moratorium that came into effect on March 30, 2020 and ended September 30, 2020. This interest-free repayment moratorium automatically paused the student borrower’s repayment requirements and stopped interest from accruing on their loans. With the moratorium now lifted, students in repayment who are continuing to experience financial hardship may be eligible to enroll in the CSLP Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP).
Furthermore, The Government of Canada announced significant increases to grant and loan support for the 2020-21 school year, so that students facing challenges due to COVID-19 can access and afford post-secondary education. These changes include:
- Canada Student Grants were doubled for all eligible full-time students to up to $6,000 and up to $3,600 for part-time students. While these grants are only provided to undergraduate students, graduate students can benefit from the increase to the Canada Student Grants for Students with Permanent Disabilities and Students with Dependents, which were also doubled.
- No contribution is expected from students and their spouses in determining the amount of financial aid a student can get in recognition that many students and families struggled to save for school this year.
- The weekly cap on CSLs was increased from $210 to $350 per week of study.
In addition to the measures mentioned above, the Government of Canada increased existing distinctions-based support for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation students pursuing post-secondary education, and extended expiring federal graduate research scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships.
- Open for signature
- June 17, 2020, at 2:15 p.m. (EDT)
- Closed for signature
- August 16, 2020, at 2:15 p.m. (EDT)
- Presented to the House of Commons
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Lindsay Mathyssen
(London—Fanshawe)
September 28, 2020 (Petition No. 432-00024) - Government response tabled
- November 16, 2020
