Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister, earlier this summer you stated, “Students...face serious challenges as a result of the global pandemic, and these unique circumstances call for unique action.”
As a post-secondary educator for almost 20 years, I would criticize your government for having almost complete inaction with students. In fact, I would say that the Liberal government has failed students, first with the WE program, with the assumption that students, many of whom are living in poverty, would be expected to work for under minimum wage in any circumstance, and then with that program being taken away as a result of the scandal with the Liberal government, never to be replaced with another program. Then there was zero mention of students in the throne speech.
It's problematic now. To top it off, the grace period for paying back student loans is now over, and many students were not able to work this summer as a result of the pandemic, forcing them to lose housing or even not go back to school because they lack the funds. We know that students are critical to rebuilding Canada's economy, and that requires an educated and financially stable workforce.
Minister, why are students continuing to be left out of the discussion for supports that will allow them to be successful in achieving their educational goals?