QUESTION PERIOD — Finance
Canada Emergency Student Benefit
June 22, 2021
Honourable senators, the youth unemployment rate in May was 18%, the highest rate since the first wave of COVID and nearly 10% above the national average.
Senator Gold, youth rely heavily upon the industries that were hit the hardest by COVID-19, such as tourism, retail and other entry-level jobs. Many of these jobs are not coming back due to continued travel restrictions and lockdowns. Further, employers are often unwilling to take on new talent in the uncertain state of our economy.
Last year, essential financial support for youth volunteers fell through, but at least some youth affected by the pandemic were eligible for the Canada Emergency Student Benefit to make it through the summer. This year is really no different — youth unemployment is similarly affected — so why hasn’t the government brought back the Canada Emergency Student Benefit for this summer?
Thank you for your question, senator.
Young people are very much at the heart of the government’s recovery efforts, not only to help them today but to invest in their future, their future success and the future success of Canada and our economy.
As the senator will know, at the outset of the pandemic, this government provided $7.4 billion to support young Canadians in the form of jobs, training and income support. Although the Canada Emergency Student Benefit program has ended, as you pointed out, Budget 2021 commits a further $5.7 billion to help young Canadians pursue their education, to provide relief from student loan debt and to gain access to over 200,000 all-new work opportunities. The measures to support students also include waiving the interest on federal student loans until March 31, 2023, enhancing the Repayment Assistance Plan, doubling the Canada Student Grants for two more years and extending disability supports.
Honourable senators, the fact is that the government has not exclusively used only one mechanism to invest in young Canadians; rather, the government’s broad-based response totalling $13.1 billion, which I alluded to and outlined, represents the largest-ever investment in Canadian youth.
Senator Gold, regarding that long list you gave us, which is very encouraging, can you provide any more details about the 200,000 new jobs that you mentioned?
Thank you for your question.
I don’t have the details, except to say the following: The government is committed to scaling up the Canada Summer Jobs program, and this year, 150,000 job opportunities are available through that program, which provides greater opportunities for Canadians than ever before.
I’ll have to make inquiries, senator, if there are more details to be shared, and I certainly will do so.
Thank you so much.
