Harper government makes post-secondary education more accessible and affordable

GATINEAU, QC, April 28, 2013 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, announced the Harper government is taking steps to increase the accessibility and affordability of post-secondary education. The low- and middle-income thresholds for Canada Student Grants and part-time Canada Student Loans and Grants have been adjusted to allow more students to qualify for financial assistance for the 2013-2014 school year.

"Our government is helping Canadians get the education, skills and experience they need for jobs in high-demand fields," said Minister Finley. "We are taking action so that youth have the knowledge and opportunities they need to fully transition into the labour market."

The Harper government invests significant funding in education and training to connect Canadians with available jobs. Over $10 billion annually is invested by the Government in support of post-secondary education, which includes providing students with financial assistance such as Canada Student Loans and Canada Student Grants. In the 2011-2012 school year, approximately 450 000 post-secondary students received $2.4 billion in Canada Student Loans and more than 335 000 students received $647 million in Canada Student Grants.

The low- and middle-income thresholds, used to assess eligibility for Canada Student Grants and part-time Canada Student Loans and Grants, have been adjusted for the 2013-2014 school year. This change will allow more students to qualify for financial assistance and will come into effect August 1, 2013.

BACKGROUNDER

The Harper government is focused on creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. Ensuring that Canadians have access to post-secondary education is vital for Canada's economic prosperity.

Low- and Middle-Income Thresholds

• Students from low- and middle-income families qualify for Canada Student Grants for full-time students as well as Canada Student Loans and Grants for part-time students based on a set of defined income levels.
• Income thresholds are based on pre-tax income, the number of people in the family and the province or territory of residence. This takes into consideration how much money families will need to pay for various items, including shelter, food, household operation, child care, transportation, and health and personal care, among other items. For example, for the 2013-2014 school year, the low-income threshold for a family of three will vary between $30,975 and $36,192.

Student Financial Assistance

• In the 2011-2012 school year, approximately 450,000 post-secondary students received $2.4 billion in Canada Student Loans and more than 335,000 students received $647 million in Canada Student Grants.
• Canada Student Loans are available to students with a demonstrated financial need who are enrolled in full-time or part-time studies at designated post-secondary institutions. In general, the federal government covers 60 percent of a student's financial need, while the province or territory covers the remaining 40 percent.
• Canada Student Grants provide up-front, non-repayable financial assistance to students from low- and middle-income families, low-income students with dependents and students with permanent disabilities. Canada Student Grants for students from low- and middle-income families and for low-income students with dependents are based on income thresholds that are updated annually.
• More information on Canada Student Loans and Grants is available at CanLearn.ca.

Supporting Post-Secondary Education for First Nations and Inuit Students

• Economic Action Plan 2013 proposes $10 million over two years to Indspire to provide post-secondary scholarships and bursaries for First Nations and Inuit students.

Loan Forgiveness for Doctors and Nurses

• As of April 1, 2013, the Government of Canada is accepting applications for Canada Student Loan forgiveness from eligible family doctors, residents in family medicine, nurse practitioners, and nurses working in designated rural or remote communities. Family doctors and residents in family medicine can receive up to $8,000 per year in Canada Student Loans forgiveness to a maximum of $40,000 over five years. Nurses and nurse practitioners can receive up to $4,000 per year in Canada Student Loans forgiveness to a maximum of $20,000 over five years.
• To apply for loan forgiveness, family doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners must have been employed (whether full-time, part-time or casual) for 12 months in a designated rural or remote community and have provided in-person services for a minimum of 400 hours, or 50 days, in that community. Residents in family medicine must have provided a minimum of 400 hours, or 50 days, of in-person service to be eligible.
• The Government of Canada's loan forgiveness program for family doctors and nurses only applies to the federal portion of outstanding Canada Student Loan debt. It does not apply to provincial or territorial student loans. Some provinces also have loan forgiveness programs.

 

Low-Income Thresholds for Determining Eligibility for Canada Student Grants (2013-2014 School Year)
Low-Income Thresholds (for pre-tax incomes)
	Province											Territory
Family Size	AB	BC	MB	NB	NL	NS	ON	QC	PE	SK		YT		NT		NU
1 person	23 647	23 647	23 647	20 366	20 366	20 366	23 647	23 647	20 240	20 366		23 647		23 647		23 647
2 persons	29 439	29 439	29 439	25 353	25 353	25 353	29 439	29 439	25 196	25 353		29 439		29 439		29 439
3 persons	36 192	36 192	36 192	31 168	31 168	31 168	36 192	36 192	30 975	31 168		36 192		36 192		36 192
4 persons	43 941	43 941	43 941	37 842	37 842	37 842	43 941	43 941	37 609	37 842		43 941		43 941		43 941
5 persons	49 839	49 839	49 839	42 919	42 919	42 919	49 839	49 839	42 655	42 919		49 839		49 839		49 839
6 persons	56 209	56 209	56 209	48 407	48 407	48 407	56 209	56 209	48 109	48 407		56 209		56 209		56 209
7 or more	62 581	62 581	62 581	53 893	53 893	53 893	62 581	62 581	53 562	53 893		62 581		62 581		62 581
Note: The low-income table above is to be used in determining eligibility for part-time studies grant.
Middle-Income Thresholds for Determining Eligibility for Canada Student Grants (2013-2014 School Year)
Middle-Income Thresholds (for pre-tax incomes)
	Province
Family Size	AB	BC	MB	NB	NL	NS	ON	QC	PE	SK	YT		NT		NU
1 person	45 644	41 032	36 534	32 921	32 819	37 446	42 756	37 580	34 142	36 143	44 426		44 426		44 426
2 persons	63 901	57 447	51 147	46 090	45 948	52 425	59 859	52 614	47 798	50 600	62 196		62 196		62 196
3 persons	76 592	74 631	64 057	57 194	57 406	65 233	74 313	66 496	60 766	63 377	73 100		73 100		73 100
4 persons	85 589	86 818	73 215	65 076	66 350	74 315	84 569	76 339	69 970	72 435	80 839		80 839		80 839
5 persons	92 577	96 270	80 324	71 188	73 283	81 364	92 530	83 984	77 104	79 463	86 840		86 840		86 840
6 persons	98 280	103 996	86 133	76 180	78 952	87 125	99 024	90 221	82 937	85 211	91 752		91 752		91 752
7 persons or more	103 105	110 529	91 041	80 404	83 742	91 994	104 525	95 498	87 864	90 065	95 895		95 895		95 895
Note: The middle-income table above is also used in determining eligibility for part-time loans.

 

 

 

SOURCE: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

For more information, contact:

Jan O'Driscoll
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482

Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills
Development Canada
819-994-5559
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This news release is available online at actionplan.gc.ca.