Students who collect emergency financial aid will be required to confirm they’re looking for summer work. Legislation providing $9 billion in assistance to students who saw their summer employment prospects dry up due to the COVID-19 crisis — which was adopted in the House of Commons tonight — says applicants must “attest to the fact that they are seeking work.”
Students who collect emergency financial aid will be required to confirm that they’re looking for summer work and will be connected with a government job bank to help employers struggling with shortages of labour.
Legislation providing $9 billion in assistance to students who saw their summer employment prospects dry up due to the COVID-19 crisis — which was adopted at second reading in the House of Commons tonight — says applicants must “attest to the fact that they are seeking work.”
The bill also says that the government will make information available about employment opportunities through a government-managed job posting system.
A small group of MPs debated the bill in the House of Commons this evening.
Under the new program, students would be eligible for $1,250 a month from May through August.
The benefit is available also to students who have jobs but are making less than $1,000 a month.
Earlier today, the House adopted two motions with elements that appear to address some concerns voiced by opposition parties.
The government’s initial plan was to provide a payment of $1,750 to students caring for dependents or those with a disability. One of today’s motions provided an additional $250 monthly top-up, something the NDP had been pushing for.
That means students in that category will receive $2,000 a month — the same amount offered by the Canada emergency response benefit (CERB), which provides assistance to Canadians who lost their incomes due to the global pandemic.
Matching students with employers
The government is also taking steps to match students with employers who need to fill labour gaps.
Conservatives had warned that the aid package could create a disincentive for students to look for summer work at a time when some essential sectors, such as agriculture, agri-food and fish pr