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BC  

Pay loans or lose license

A new policy change at ICBC could deny drivers’ licenses to anyone who is in default of their provincial student loans.

The provincial government announced the proposed legislation last week, saying it would only be used as a last resort when attempting to collect on outstanding court fines or student loans.

“Today’s move by the BC Liberals is both unfair and counterproductive,” says Zachary Crispin with the Canadian Federation of Students–BC.

“Denying a drivers license to young people struggling to pay back their loans is sure to cost jobs, resulting in more defaults, not fewer.”

The proposed law would be intended to help government collect $185 million in outstanding student loans, but Crispin argues the province already charges some of the highest interest rates in the country, leaving most graduates in debt following their post-secondary education.

“Missing a student loan payment, or paying late, might warrant a telephone call, but certainly not the loss of your drivers license,” Crispin adds.

“Repayment rates for student loans in BC are already near the best in Canada. This policy change is both unhelpful and unnecessary,”

The Canadian Federation of Students–BC is composed of post-secondary students from 15 universities and colleges in every region in BC.



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