Canada's New Benefit Will Give Students $1,250 A Month From May To August
Help is on the way for students across the country. The new Canada Emergency Student Benefit will give over $1,000 to students over the course of four months. The first period starts on May 1.
On April 22, Justin Trudeau announced a new benefit for students during the COVID-19 pandemic that will give immediate help to those who need it.
The Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) will provide students with $1,250 per month from May until August.
In addition, if you take care of someone else or have a disability, that amount will increase to $1,750 per month.
"For today, for the summer, for next year, we're going to be there for you," Trudeau said.
He noted that people might not be able to work their regular jobs right now and that money is tight.
This benefit is designed for those currently enrolled in post-secondary schools right now, people going to college in September or people who graduated in December 2019.
It's also there for people who already have a job but are making less than $1,000 a month.*
The period covered by the CESB starts on May 1 and payments will be delivered through the CRA.
"We'll be working with opposition parties to move forward on legislation to put this new benefit in place," Trudeau said.
Along with the benefit, more supports are also being put into place.
"Our government is creating 76,000 jobs for young people in addition to the Canada Jobs program," Trudeau said.
These jobs will be in sectors that need help right now or that are on the front lines of the pandemic.
Also, there will be specific support provided for indigenous students.
Education grants that the government gives out for the 2020-2021 school year will be doubled.
"If you're volunteering instead of working, we're going to make sure you have support too," he said.
Young learners helping in the fight against COVID-19 this summer will soon be eligible for $1,000 to $5,000 as part of a volunteer benefit, the Canada Student Service Grant.
"To all the students watching today, let me say this. As you're building your future, thinking about how to contribute, about starting a family or a career, all of a sudden you're faced with a massive crisis. This uncertainty that you feel can be overwhelming," Trudeau said.
He noted that the measures being out in place will help this group get through this situation so that they can get back to building their future.
All of the government's support for students is a part of Trudeau's $9 billion plan.
Some students are getting other kinds of supports as well to ensure that they have all the tools they need to learn from home.
In Ontario, for example, free iPads with wireless data are being distributed to kids in low-income households, to help them stay connected to their online classroom.
Rogers and Apple have both stepped in to make this initiative happen. Rogers said to Narcity that the province won't have to foot the bill for the wireless data.
As for the CESB, the Prime Minister made it clear that it's important to support our students through this time. He stated that on the other side of this pandemic, students will define Canada's path forward to a better, more equal society.
*This article has been updated.