Government Announces Measures to Support Students and Create Student Jobs

Today, Prime Minister Trudeau announced $9 billion in measures to support students including: a plan to create 76,000 student jobs, the Emergency Student Benefit to help students who cannot find jobs due to COVID-19 and funding to support students doing COVID-related volunteer work. These measures announced today are in addition to the additional Canada Summer Jobs funding, as well as Canada Student Loans payment deferrals.

Implementation of the three mechanisms will require legislation.

Student Job Creation‍

• Government intends to create 76,000 student jobs in those sectors needing help right now, and in sectors in the frontline of COVID-19. These jobs are in addition to jobs under the Canada Summer Jobs.

Canada Student Service Grant

• A support between $1,000 and $5,000 for students who volunteer on COVID-19 related initiatives.

Canada Emergency Student Benefit

• Benefit of $1,250 per month; those who have a disability or are taking care of a dependent to receive $1,750.
• Intended to help students who have not found employment, or whose hours have been affected.
• Benefit to be retroactive to May 1, 2020.
• Eligible to all student who don’t have jobs or are earning less than $1,000 a month.
• All students who are either currently in school, will be starting school in September, or have graduated since December 2019.

Indigenous and Metis Supports

• $75 million to specifically increase support for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Nation students.

Student Grants & Scholarships

• Investing more than $291 million to extend scholarships, fellowships, and grants for three or four months.
• Doubling the student grants that the government gives out for the 2020-21 school year.

Federal Engagement

Consult the Sussex COVID-19 Guide for information on supports made available across the Federal, Provincial and Municipal Governments.

As the details of the programs announced today become available, let Sussex help connect you with the right people in government to help your organization get through these extraordinary times.

For more detail, please reach out to your Sussex representative directly or to the Federal Government Relations Team.