The Hon. Carla Qualtrough
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
140 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0J9

The Hon. Bardish Chagger
Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth

April 7, 2020

Dear Ministers,

Thank you for your hard work on behalf of Canadians in this time of crisis.

As I am sure you know, post-secondary institutions across the country are urgently soliciting cash donations to provide emergency bursaries and loans to students unable to afford basic needs like food, medication or access to the internet to attend online classes as a result to the COVID-19 pandemic. We also know that students expecting to work summer jobs will not be eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

1. What is the government doing to provide meaningful support to students and young people who are unable to makes ends meet during this crisis?

The government’s 6-month Canada Student Loan deferral program announced on March 18, 2020 will not help students currently enrolled at a post-secondary institution as they do not have to repay their Canada Student Loans until they graduate. Further, students who have completed their studies have benefited from a 6-month interest-free grace-period for twenty-five years.

2. What is the government’s plan to assist full-time students unable to find employment to fund their education?

Thousands of post-secondary students planning on returning to school the in the fall rely on employment provided through the Canada Summer Jobs Program (CSJP) to help them pay for books and tuition. As a great many of the applicants to that program are businesses and non-profit organizations that will not be operating due to the pandemic, there needs to be communication to all MPs on how this program is going to change. Thus far, all we have heard is it will be business as usual and that the start date is unchanged.

3. What is the government’s plan for the Canada Summer Jobs Program?

4. Has the government contacted all non-profit organizations and small business CSJP applicants to determine if they still operational and able to participate in the program?

5. What support will the government provide to organizations seeking to hire more young people in in-demand areas like the charitable sector?

6. Will the government reopen the program to new applications that may be more appropriate in our current crisis, such as providing grocery delivery to those stuck in their homes?

We look forward to your response and further collaboration on these important matters for Canada’s youth.

Sincerely,

Dan Albas
Shadow Minister for Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
Member of Parliament for Central Okanagan – Similkameen – Nicola

 

Raquel Dancho
Shadow Minister for Diversity and Inclusion and Youth
Member of Parliament for Kildonan- St. Paul

 

Brad Vis
Deputy Shadow Minister for Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
Member of Parliament for Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon

 

Eric Melillo
Deputy Shadow Minister for Diversity and Inclusion and Youth
Member of Parliament for Kenora