Young Canadians have been among the most impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic. They have experienced the highest job losses and the worst mental health decline of any age group. They have sacrificed a lot to protect their parents and grandparents, and they need our support to recover and rebuild from the pandemic. By making life more affordable, and by creating new opportunities and jobs for young Canadians today, the Government of Canada is investing in their future success and the long-term prosperity of our country.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today spoke to young Canadians across the country and highlighted measures in Budget 2021 that will help them pursue and complete their education, make student debt easier to pay down, and create new training and work opportunities.
The Government of Canada intends to invest $5.7 billion over five years in measures to support students and young Canadians. These include:
• Creating 215,000 new training and work opportunities for young Canadians, so they can gain valuable skills and experience in the workforce
• Waiving interest on student loans for an additional year, which would help about 1.5 million Canadians who are repaying student loans
• Providing more flexibility for the repayment of federal student loans, so no one has to make a payment they cannot afford
• Doubling the Canada Student Grants for two more years to help over 580,000 students cover the cost of their tuition, school supplies, and living expenses
• Expanding access to supports, grants, and repayment assistance for students with disabilities.
Budget 2021 builds on the work we have been doing to support young Canadians through this crisis. This includes supporting close to 200,000 new work opportunities and experiences, providing income support to over 700,000 students through the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, creating a six-month moratorium on student loan payments, and doubling the Canada Student Grants for the 2020-21 school year.
Together, these measures will create new opportunities for young Canadians, and help put them at the centre of our country’s recovery. This is part of the Government of Canada’s plan to make life more affordable for everyone, create jobs, strengthen our economy, and grow the middle class. (pm.gc.ca)