The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour:

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to highlight enhancements to the Provincial Student Loans Program for the 2020-21 academic year.

These improvements align with changes to the federal Canada Student Loans Program and will help mitigate the impacts that the COVID-19 public health emergency will have on students for the coming academic year.

Enhancements to the provincial program include increasing the weekly loan limit to $100 per week of study from $40; bringing the combined provincial loan and grant weekly limit to $200; and exempting student and spousal contributions when assessing applications for provincial student aid.

This is in addition to the temporary suspension of both federal and provincial student loan repayments until September 30, 2020.

I am also pleased to announce that the student aid application for 2020-21 launched this week thanks to staff from the Student Aid Division and the Office of the Chief Information Officer. This is another example of the great work public service employees are doing during these unprecedented times.

Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes the impacts that COVID-19 has had on students. The combined effects of these enhancements to the Provincial Student Loans Program and the Canada Student Loans Program will ensure post-secondary students have access to much needed financial assistance.