Carla Qualtrough

[Business of Supply, June 17th, 2020]

Madam Chair, a big part of our $9 billion commitment to students was, in fact, the establishment of the Canada student service grant. I am excited to inform the House that, within days, the “I Want to Help” platform will be available for students to connect to service opportunities. This will allow them to accumulate hours toward the service grant, which they will get from the government at the end of their summer service. We know that this is all coming fast and furious, but students were very clear to us that they wanted meaningful service opportunities, and we will be happy to provide them.

[Business of Supply, June 17th, 2020]

Madam Chair, I can assure every Canadian and everyone in the House that, as we looked at all the measures we were delivering for Canadians, we made sure that we put a disability inclusion lens not only on what specific help we would give to people with disabilities but on every single measure. I can say that the result in the student benefit was an additional $750 a month for students with disabilities and students with dependants.

We know that last week we hit a major hiccup, without the unanimous consent of the House, in delivering a benefit we promised to people with disabilities. Rest assured, we are still going to deliver for Canadians with disabilities. We are looking at alternate means and we hope to eventually find a different path forward that does not require the legislative changes—

[Business of Supply, June 17th, 2020]

Madam Chair, we committed to extend the EI sickness benefits from the current 15 weeks to 26 weeks.

With respect to self-employed individuals, we know that there is an option currently within the EI system for self-employed workers to contribute to and get special benefits, like maternity and parental leave, but not regular benefits. Of course, as we look to transition workers and continue to support workers—

[Business of Supply, June 17th, 2020]

Madam Chair, as we tried to help all workers it became very clear that the employment insurance system was not set up to handle a pandemic situation. It obviously does not help those who do not pay into EI, but also people who cannot work because of child care responsibilities or people who are sick because of a national pandemic virus. When we took all of the workers out of EI for the period of the CERB, we did so knowing that eventually everybody would have to transition back into the EI system and that, at that point, we would have to tackle the very real challenges associated with getting millions of people back into a system that does not cover millions of other people.

Absolutely, we are looking at ways to transition those people back into the EI system who are EI-eligible and to continue to support workers who do not currently fall within the EI system as we look to a September date when, for many people, their CERB will have run out.

[Business of Supply, June 17th, 2020]

Madam Chair, we will not take away work incentives. It would have been easier had we decided to provide a benefit that covered two weeks next week, but of course, people would not have agreed to work.

[Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act, April 29th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, that again is another example of our collaboration as we have been going back and forth on the issue of international students.

One of the things we made sure of when we created the CERB was that the criteria would include the requirement that someone had to be resident in Canada, so international students as well as temporary foreign workers could apply. When we embarked upon our process of thinking of how we could support students, we looked at our existing student policy, which focuses on Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Mirroring our existing policy around Canada student loans and Canada summer jobs, the current Canada student benefit is focused on Canadian citizens and residents of Canada.

What we have done for international students is to relax the restriction on the number of hours they can work, which is particularly important for international students studying in medical fields right now.

[Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act, April 29th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I was very excited when the member put forth his proposal to me in recent days. In fact, just this morning I met with my officials to move that proposal forward so we can indeed respond to the needs of northern Ontario through the use of medical students and not in any way encroach upon the Canada summer jobs program.

“Absolutely” is my answer. I believe I will have a solution for him within hours, if not within the next days. I am very excited about this proposal.

[Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act, April 29th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, the short answer is yes, absolutely. I look forward to working with all members to enhance our opportunities for young people to work, including adding additional jobs to our existing programs.

[Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act, April 29th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the Deputy Prime Minister.

I am pleased to participate today in this debate on Bill C-15, an act respecting Canada emergency student benefits. We are here to discuss how we can best support Canada's students.

For over six weeks, Canadians have been adapting to the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is affecting our country and the entire world.

In order to support Canadians during this crisis, our government has taken significant action and implemented Canada's COVID-19 economic response plan, which provides $146 billion in support.

A key element of this plan is the Canada emergency response benefit, created to support Canadian workers facing unemployment due to COVID-19. The benefit is now providing eligible workers with temporary income support of $500 a week for up to 16 weeks.

When we launched the benefit on April 6, some Canadian workers expressed concerns about eligibility. We listened, and on April 15 we made it more inclusive. Now workers, including the self-employed, can earn up to $1,000 per month while collecting the benefit. The benefit also applies to workers who have recently exhausted their EI regular benefit payments and are unable to start working again because of COVID-19.

To give the House a sense of the scope of this effort, public servants have now processed over 10.15 million applications to date under the Canada emergency response benefit. This figure is a reflection of the real need of Canadians during this time and of our public service's dedication to our country.

We know that more support is needed for Canadians. Young people are facing a serious set of challenges in this difficult time, be it interrupted studies, reduced work opportunities or disruptions to summer co-op or internship plans.

Many Canadian post-secondary students are wondering how they will be able to pay their tuition, buy groceries and cover their rent if they cannot find a summer job.

It is estimated that over a million post-secondary students may not be eligible for the Canada emergency response benefit.

Students are a valuable part of our communities and are ready to bring innovative solutions and a helping hand to our workforce in response to COVID-19.

Last week the Prime Minister mentioned Felix, a recent engineering grad from Carleton University. Felix has experience working on communication satellites, and a few weeks ago he talked to a local manufacturer about what they could do in the fight against COVID-19. Now they have started designing and creating reusable face shields for front-line workers.

Felix is not the only one stepping up. Young people from all over Canada are pitching in and doing their part.

This proposed legislation before us is how we are supporting them in turn. If approved, this framework would provide financial relief to students during the important summer months through a temporary income support benefit worth approximately $5.2 billion. I will focus on the largest piece of this framework, which is the Canada emergency student benefit.

Last week our government announced a four-month Canada emergency student benefit. Students who are not receiving the CERB and meet the criteria for this new benefit will be able to apply to receive $1,250 per month between May and August. Students with permanent disabilities and students with dependants would receive an additional $750 per month, for a total of $2,000 a month.

Students will be able to work part time and still receive the benefit, which is part of our effort to keep Canadians connected with the labour market.

Like the Canada emergency response benefit, the Canada emergency student benefit will not have to be repaid.

The CESB would be available to students who are enrolled in a post-secondary education program leading to a degree, diploma or certificate, or who ended their studies no earlier than December 2019. This means that students who are enrolled in a post-secondary education program or who just recently ended their post-secondary studies would be eligible. It would also be available to high school graduates who will be joining post-secondary education programs in the coming months.

The Canada emergency student benefit will also be accessible to both current CEGEP students and those who recently completed their CEGEP studies and plan to go back to school in the fall.

Our government has also committed over $75 million to enhance the assistance offered to first nations, Inuit and Métis students.

Students would be able to begin applying for the CESB in May via a simple online form on the CRA website under My Account.

Finally, I would like to highlight what our government is doing to address the concerns of students with disabilities during this pandemic. We recognize that some groups are significantly and disproportionately impacted by this crisis. For some Canadians with disabilities, underlying medical conditions put them at greater risk of serious complications related to COVID-19. Others face discrimination and barriers in accessing information, social services and health care.

We know that students with disabilities as well as students with dependants could have additional expenses during this public health crisis. As such, Canadian students with disabilities and students with dependants would be eligible to receive an extra $750 per month on top of the basic CESB benefit.

The uncertainty may feel overwhelming for many students, but in Canada we look out for each other. We value education, service and hard work. These measures will help Canadian students get through these difficult times so they can build their career and future they have been working so hard for.

Putting forward this legislation is a key step in our delivery of support for students. I thank all the members of Parliament who are providing feedback and bringing forth the thoughts and concerns of their constituents.

The passage of this bill is a key step in the government's offer of assistance to students. I thank all members who gave feedback and shared their constituents' ideas and concerns.

May is fast approaching and students are counting on us to help them get through these trying times.

Together, as members of Parliament, we have the opportunity to support Canada's students in a way that will be felt for years to come. On the other side, when the economy comes back, they will define our path forward, a path toward a better, more equal society.

[COVID-19 Pandemic, April 11th, 2020]

Mr. Chair, I can so confirm. If Canadians truthfully apply, honestly believe they are eligible, and it is determined they may not have been or perhaps have received two payments for applying twice, we will absolutely ensure, through our back end, that we will respectfully work with them. I can assure the House nobody is going to be made to have more duress because of these efforts.