PM Trudeau announces $9 Billion funds for students in this COVID-19 situation

As on 22nd April of 2020, there were around 39,805 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada and 1,966 deaths due to this. While the whole world is fighting against this coronavirus Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Canada made a positive announcement for students and recent graduate of Canada on Wednesday, 22nd April. Students and recently graduated candidates who had planned their education and job prospects are obstructed by the epidemic named COVID-19 will be able to demand a new Canada Emergency Student Benefit soon. As a part of it a $9 billion package of new measures aimed at helping young people.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said “As young people what you are going through matters” he also added, “We want to make sure that you will be OK.”

The announcement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 

At the news conference on 22nd April, the prime minister of Canada announced some positive news for the young people. College and university students presently in schools, and are planning to start in the month of September, or who graduated in the month of December 2019 are eligible for the following claims. The highlights regarding his announcement are as follows:

• The students of post-secondary will  receive $1,250 per month from May to August 2020
• If they have any disability or if they are taking care of someone then, that amount will be increased to $1,750 per month.
• Also, all working students who are earning less than $1,000 per month too can apply for it.

PM. Trudeau said that the jobs and grants for new students are also on way. The program is expected to be rolled out in the coming near weeks. The payments will be taking effect from 1st of May 2020. He also added that Student grants will be doubled for the approaching academic year. Those who are volunteering will also have access to funds. Payments of these claims will be made through the Canada Revenue Agency.

Good news for Canadian students

Words of Prime Minister “COVID-19 has meant that there aren’t as many jobs out there for students, and without a job, it can be hard to pay for tuition or the day-to-day basics.” He also added to the statement  “You might normally have turned to your parents for help, but right now mom and dad are stretched, too”.

He also said that the new jobs and grants for students are also coming soon. Regarding this he also announced the following measure they are taking in the context of coronavirus crisis:

• Making available another 76,000 jobs for youngsters in sectors that presently require extra manpower, or that are most affected by the pandemic which could include contact tracing or helping the farming sector.
• Investing $291.6 million for fellowships, scholarships, & grants for the period of 3-4 months for research, developments and placements, including postdoctoral fellowships.
• Introducing new Canada Student Service Grant of between $1,000 and $5,000 for students providing voluntary services in the fight against control and cure of Coronavirus.
• Raising the maximum weekly assistance provided to a student from $210 to $350  for the year 2020-201, aimed at providing financial assistance.
• Grant for the eligible full-time Canadian Students raised up to $6,000 and $3,600 for part-time students for the year 2020-21 which is almost double than previously provided.
• The Canada Student Grants for Students with permanent disabilities and Students with dependents are also doubled.
• Providing $75.2 million to  increase support for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Nation students 
• The Canada emergency response benefit (CERB) is offered to the students and anyone else who earned at least $5,000 in the last year, but only if they had been working and lost their source of income due to this crisis.

The Canadian Prime Minister also addressed students and said that as students are trying to build their future, thinking about how to contribute, and how to start a career or family and now suddenly they find themselves in this major crisis. The measures mentioned above will help them to get through this situation and they can build a career and the future that they have been striving to, and added that the government have been looking forward to for any other suggestion and views. Candian educational has a worldwide reputation that's the reason that many international students choose to study in Canada.

Carla Qualtrough, the acting President of the Treasury Board said that the government knows that it is going to be difficult for the students in summer, given their limited employment options. But she said there are many service options available for the students to do the job and the government is also trying to give them an incentive to take on such work through the volunteer grant.