On May 1, 2020 legislation authorizing $9 billion in financial aid for Canadian students and recent graduates was passed by royal assent. The legislation creates the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) which will provide income support to post-secondary students who have lost work opportunities as a result of COVID-19 and are not eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
Students and recent graduates will be eligible to receive $1,250/month for up to 4 months (May-August 2020). Students with disabilities, or with dependents will receive an additional $700.
The following persons are eligible for the CESB:
- students enrolled in a post-secondary program to obtain a degree, diploma, or certificate;
- students who ended their studies or graduated no earlier than December 2019;
- high school graduates that applied or will be joining post-secondary programs in the coming months; and
- Canadian students studying abroad who meet one of the above criteria.
Minister of Employment Carla Qualtrough expects applications to be open by mid-May, but few details about precise eligibility criteria and the application process have been released. The legislation states that applications will not be accepted after September 30, 2020. AIAI will provide updated information as it becomes available.
Resources
Canada Revenue Agency: COVID-19 Update: National COVID-19 Business Continuity Plan – April 27, 2020
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
Employment and Social Development: News Release – April 29, 2020
House Passes $9B Aid Package After Emergency Student Benefit Boosted – April 29, 2020
Senate Passes $9B Suite of COVID-19 Student Aid Measures – May 1, 2020
Support for Students and Recent Graduates Impacted by COVID-19: News Release – April 22, 2020
