Canada Student Loans Program

Contributed - Sep 12, 2007 / 11:41 am | Story: 33579

Government Asking For Your Input on Canada Student Loans Program

I dropped off my youngest daughter last week for the first day of her last year of high school. I have to admit I felt a bit emotional. Partly because it seems like only yesterday I was dropping her off at Grade 1 and partly because school represents such an important part of her life and has the power to shape who and what she will become.

I don’t know if my daughter will head off to university or college after she graduates. It will depend on a number of factors not the least of which is the cost of tuition. We’ve put some money aside in an RESP but the onus will be on her to find a way to contribute as well.

According to Statistics Canada, undergraduate tuition costs have increased faster than the rate of inflation. In 2006/2007 students could expect to pay on average 3.2% more in tuition fees, almost twice the rate of growth in the previous academic year.

Given the cost, many young Canadians have to consider using the Canada Student Loans program.

The Canada Student Loans Program was created in 1964 and helps promote access to post secondary education by providing students with financial assistance through a combination of loans and grants.

The reason I am raising the issue with you is that a review of the Program is currently underway to consider new approaches to modernize and simplify the administration and delivery of student financial assistance in order to make supports more effective, transparent and predictable.

The Government is consulting with provinces, territories and stakeholders. But it also wants to hear directly from you. Between September 7th and 28th you can participate in the survey online.

The Canada Student Loans program is an important component in helping to defray the costs of a post-secondary education but also ensuring that young Canadians have access to post-secondary education. The latter is even more important when you consider that over the next 10 years approximately two-thirds of all job openings will require some form of post-secondary education.

Furthermore, while education is pivotal to our children’s future, it is becoming increasingly important to adults who require further education to keep skills and training up to date. Given the labour shortages in our region it is imperative that we do what we can to make education affordable and accessible.

In any case, educated Canadians are key to the future of our economic prosperity, competitiveness and social well-being. I encourage you to participate in the survey, let the Government know what you think and help to make this important component of our post-secondary education system better.

How the Federal Government Supports Post-Secondary Education

Budget 2007 reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to delivering more responsive programs, better services and improving accountability to ensure learning institutions continue to meet Canada’s evolving learning and skills development needs by:

Investing $800 million more per year into post-secondary education representing a 40 per cent increase over previous years beginning in 2008.
Providing the most scholarships ever granted to our graduate students through the Canada Graduate Scholarships Program.
Helping Canadians save for their education by making Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs) more attractive.
Continuing to provide a textbook tax credit and full tax exemption on scholarship and bursary income.

For more information on federally-supported education programs like the Canada Student Loans program please go to hrsdc.gc.ca. For Budget information on the Government’s support of post-secondary education please go to budget.gc.ca. As always, if you have any questions relating to this or any other issue, feel free to call me at 470-5075.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

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About the Author

The Honourable Ron Cannan was first elected as Member of Parliament for Kelowna-Lake Country in January, 2006. He was subsequently elected in the 2008 and 2011 federal elections. He is a member of the Conservative Caucus.

On September 13th, 2012 Ron was summoned to be a member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and will provide advice to the Government as a member of the Priorities and Planning Sub-Committee on Government Administration.

Ron successfully uses his experience and knowledge as a long-time Kelowna City Councillor and regional government representative to be an effective and enthusiastic champion for his riding and his constituents.

His greatest satisfaction comes from helping local organizations and citizens obtain the support they require from Ottawa.

He is also dedicated to doing what it takes to ensure that the growing and vibrant communities in his riding continue to thrive and prosper.

He is proud of the partnership and cooperation between federal, provincial and municipal governments which have resulted in significant infrastructure projects including upgrades to Highway 97, expansion of the Kelowna International Airport, a new horticulture strategy for fruit growers, obtaining a full service passport office for Kelowna and addressing critical economic issues such as labour skills shortages.

He works closely with the local Chambers of Commerce and once a year arranges meetings for the Chamber with Cabinet Ministers and senior policy staff in Ottawa to move forward important local issues such as crime prevention and labour skills shortages.

He is also an ardent champion for important community initiatives including homelessness, mental health, women’s resources, and support of arts and culture.

On Parliament Hill, Ron has been a member of the Standing Committee on International Trade since 2006 supporting initiatives which will broaden the economic opportunities for local businesses and businesses Canada-wide.

In previous parliamentary sessions Ron has been a member of the Standing Committee for Government Operations and Estimates, Veteran’s Affairs, Human Resources and Social Development, the Scrutiny of Regulations Committee, and the Standing Committee for Fisheries and Oceans.

Ron is also involved in a variety of inter-parliamentary organizations: he is Vice Chair of the Canada-US Inter-Parliamentary Group, and a member of the Canada-Taiwan Friendship group.

As Chair of the Conservative Wine Caucus, Ron works with his colleagues across the country to promote the wine regions of Canada. Ron tabled Motion 218(formerly Motion 601) which supports direct to consumer purchasing of Canadian wine. His motion became Bill C-311, sponsored by MP Dan Albas, seconded by Ron, which was passed into law on June 28th, 2012.

Prior to entering politics, Ron developed a diverse business background as a small business owner and had several years experience in marketing and sales management working with corporations including Coca-Cola, Costco and Corus Entertainment. 

Very active in his community, Ron has been a Director for both the Central Okanagan Regional District and the Central Okanagan Hospital Board. Ron also served on the Okanagan University College Access to Training Advisory Board, the Glenmore Elementary School Parents Advisory Council, and the Kelowna Christian School Fund Raising Committee. He was co-founder of the Okanagan Volunteer Festival. Currently Ron is a member of the Sunrise Rotary Club of Kelowna and, along with his wife Cindy, was the honorary Chair of the 2012 Canadian Cancer Society Daffodil Ball.

Ron lives a family-oriented and active lifestyle with his wife Cindy. He is the proud father of three daughters and grandfather to three grandsons. His hobbies include music and sports.

The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.

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