Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed a $9 billion emergency aid package at his daily address Wednesday morning, aimed at helping post-secondary students in Canada struggling financially due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Trudeau detailed the package which consists of financial aid for students who may not be eligible for the current Canada Emergency Response Benefit.
The Canada Emergency Student Benefit will provide any student who qualifies $1,250 per month beginning this May, and lasting until August, 2020.
Students who take care of someone or have a disability are eligible to receive $1,750 per month from this benefit.
The aid is available to those currently enrolled at a post-secondary institution, headed to a post-secondary institution in September, or to any student who graduated after December 2019.
Those who meet the above criteria will qualify for this aid package if they have a job and only make up to $1,000 a month.
Trudeau says the federal government is also creating 76,000 jobs for young people, on top of the Canada Summer Job program.
He also announced that the government will be doubling the amount of student grants for the 2020-2021 school year, and any student volunteering this summer could be eligible for a $1,000 – $5,000 grant through the Canada Student Service Grant.
These new measures require legislation. Further details to come.
See all the latest updates about the global COVID-19 pandemic on Vancouver Island
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 2,592,373.
Over 181,000 people have died from the illness and 710,272 have made a full recovery.
