Thank you, Mr. Chairman and the committee, for hearing me.
My name is Josh Levac. I'm speaking on my own behalf, but with experience as a financial aid manager in post-secondary education in Canada.
I would like to start by acknowledging that the government has already gone to great measures to support access to post-secondary education for Canadians, specifically through increases in grants available to high-needs students, and has promised an increase in support for indigenous students attending post-secondary institutions.
I'm hoping to spark a further interest in you to support our future generations by asking you to consider funding a federal work-study program. A federal work-study program would provide high-needs students with the ability to gain practical work experience throughout their education. The primary focus would be on work to supplement the student's schedule. This focus would allow for a small amount of additional resources to our students in order to alleviate some of the financial stresses that accompany getting an education or degree.
Other countries run programs such as this, and they provide an excellent means to ensure that our future generations are work-ready once they graduate and that they graduate without a significant debt load. I strongly encourage you to consider this opportunity, and I'm more than willing to discuss this opportunity with you at length.
Thank you.