By Pete McIntyre

Trudeau announces $9 billion for students

Apr 22, 2020 | 9:05 AM

Post secondary students are the focus of new federal funding programs related to COVID-19.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the Canada Emergency Student Benefit to provide immediate help, to create new student jobs, and double student grants, in a nine billion dollar package.

The benefit will give students $1,250 a month from May to August, and $1,750 each month for those that take care of someone else, or a person with a disability.

It will apply to current post secondary students, to those going in September, and for those that graduated last December.

Students who have a job, but are earning less than $1,000 a month, will also be eligible.

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“The federal government is creating 76,000 jobs for young people in addition to the Canada Summer Jobs Program,” stated Trudeau at his daily national address Wednesday. “These placements will be in sectors that need an extra hand right now or that are on the front lines of this pandemic. We’re also going to provide specific support for Indigenous students. And for student researchers and graduate students we’re going to invest $291 million to extend scholarships, fellowships and grants to make sure you can keep working.”

Students who are volunteering instead of working this summer, will also get support.

“Students helping in the fight against COVID-19 this summer will soon be eligible for $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your hours, through the new Canada Student Service Grant. Your energy and your skills can do a lot of good right now,” Trudeau added.

by Pete McIntyre

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