Liberals move forward to help students afford college and university 

A re-elected Liberal government is committed to giving students more money to help pay for college and university, and provide more flexibility to pay back their student loans.

Right now, the price of tuition is rising faster than students can keep up with. The costs of rent, books, and groceries — along with cuts to student aid by provincial Conservative governments — are putting an immense amount of financial pressure and stress on students. The personal debt for an average person under 36 is higher than it’s ever been before.

“These days, getting a degree or diploma isn’t a luxury — it’s a must-have for many of the good, well paying jobs Canadians rely on,” said Leader of the Liberal Party, Justin Trudeau.

“Students are struggling to keep their heads above water — I hear that here in Huron-Bruce — and it’s exactly why we’re going to give them the help they need so they can pursue their passions and secure their future,” said Allan Thompson, the Liberal candidate in the riding of Huron-Bruce.

A re-elected Liberal government will help more students prepare for good jobs while taking on less debt with the following measures:

  • give students up to $1,200 more, per year, by increasing Canada Student Grants by another 40 per cent, to help with the rising cost of tuition, books, and rent;

  • give students two years after graduation to get started before they need to begin paying off their student loans, interest free; and

  • allow new parents to pause student loan repayments — with no interest — until their youngest child reaches the age of five.

Since 2015, the government has helped make college and university more affordable and accessible by:

  • initially increasing Canada Student Grants by 50 per cent, which put up to $1,000 more in the pockets of students who needed it;

  • reducing interest costs on Canada Student Loans, saving the average student $2,000 throughout their education

  • introducing new grants to help adult students and students with children

  • boosting the repayment assistance plan so that no student who makes less than $25,000 has to start repaying their loan

  • helping those on EI to go back to school without losing their benefits.

“Like Doug Ford and Blaine Higgs, Andrew Scheer will cut support for college and university students,” said Liberal leader Trudeau. “But what the Conservatives fail to understand is that the greatest investment we can make in our future is in education and training. We won’t make their same mistakes.”