This website is a testimony to the problems Canadian Student Loan borrowers experienced from approximately 1996 to 2008 and until their loans were paid off.

The privatization of the Student Loans system by the Chretien and Martin Liberal governments broke the system and defaulted thousands of borrowers who were trying to pay their loans. There were even stories of suicide due to the harassment of borrowers.

Read the report that I prepared back in 2007 here. Canada Student Loans-The Need for Change Fortunately the new Conservative government at the time revamped the program and fixed the system for new borrowers, but borrowers under the previous program were left with ruined credit and continued harassment from debt collectors.

I call on the Canadian Government to apologize to the borrowers affected by this fiasco and make amends.

Unfortunately the Liberal government is again clobbering the Education system with their upcoming changes to International Student Visas. Yes, there's a problem, but instead of a well thought out plan, they have pulled the emergency brake on the train causing a derailment. This has introduced unprecedented instability for both private and public education institutions who serve both international and local students.

Universities can't plan. I've heard of courses being cut because the government has no process in place for universities to send the newly required acceptance letters to the government.

This means that students who have been accepted can not attend courses that start in the summer 2024 semester. With cut sections, current Canadian students will have trouble getting courses, and may have to switch to part-time which changes their enrollment status and might trigger repayment of their loans or ineligibility for funding. I've seen this before. It wreaks havoc on the student loan borrowers.

Again, the Liberal government has messed up the education environment. Will the new system needed in a rush for the acceptance letters be the new Arrivecan scandal?

I call on the government to implement a slower phased in approach and delay the requirement of the acceptance letters until a process is in place to submit these letters.


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blueroom View Drop Down
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    Posted: 06/January/2005 at 3:01pm

I followed the rules. Even though my parents have had to help me a lot. Of course you all know what that's like.

I did owe 35000. I'm glad they reduced some of that. I'm down to 25000 now.  I was always classified as a student with a permanent disability...Canada Student Loans always ended up rejecting my 'package' of info due to it's imcomplete parts. (This process took years...)I didn't leave any info OUT nor did I lie about anything...plus my physicians have written many letters on my behalf....but they still ended up rejecting me for Official Loan Forgiveness...again and again, due to INCOMPLETE INFORMATION. (insert swear word here.)Thankfully...(?) I qualified for a bit of debt reduction. When I found an okay paying job in an horrible field of work-they demanded payment immediately, saying that I had used up all of my interest relief periods (there were many, I'll admit that) and that I could no longer be classified as a Student With a Permanent Disability because I was working full time. My boat had sailed, so to speak, and I wouldn't be considered for any kind of forgiveness that related to student disabilities. Anything my physicians had written on my behalf seemed to be null and void, the file closed. All because I had a job. (If I had stayed on welfare, maybe they might have considered me eventually...)

I make okay money...a good wage, but my medical expenses are incredibly high. The loan payments I've made for the last 12 months  are the lowest they can go. Soon I will be having more surgery and will not be able to work for at least a year...my unemployment will only cover my rent and bills...no food, nothing else. Wha?? Saskatchewan (Please let the editor of the page know that SASKATCHEWAN is spelled wrong on the main page of who to contact in which province...) is a super province...I love it here and the good things in place for young people but...the provincial loans I have aren't the issue.(I'm almost done paying that off...)

What do I do? No one at the Canada Student Loan Center will look at me since I'm working and am in official repayment (negotiated with the Royal Bank.) argh! The folks at the Royal just want me to keep being a loyal customer and will never assist me...the people who route my complaint calls ensure that I will never speak with anyone who has any space on their voice mail.

Advice? Anyone? From Saskatchewan? How does one contact a person who KNOWS/CARES that students are trying...but that sometimes repayment is impossible...?Shall I just get my parents to hire a lawyer?? Or should I just quit whining and be glad that a tidal wave hasn't hit my home? (sheesh...i know everyone else out there is going thru this too...but...since I've been battling this since 1997, my hopes for help are kind of shot.)

Should I just proceed and send a letter to my premier? Or should I send a letter (not that he'll care) to the minister of education? Or the minister of health/welfare?? Or all three?

If anyone has any advice..please send it my way. I've read many of your posts...and I no longer feel quite so 'hard done by'. I honestly thought I was one of the few who had been hit hard by the unfair proceedings of our student loan programs...

Thanks-

stumblywumbly
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momof2 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote momof2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06/January/2005 at 4:04pm

blue

welcome to the site.  sorry it has to be under such circumstances.

it seems when it comes to disabilities, the government likes to throw tons of paperwork and red tape in our direction, lose our forms and figure we will get frustrated and give up.

i find it reprehensible that you were denied the permanent disability benefit when you had clearly had a preexisting disability when you first received funding.  keep writing letters, i hope you have documentation of all your past attempts to get your loan forgiveness etc ?  do not let this drop.  someone should be held accountable and you are still entitled to receive what was wrongfully denied to you by their incompetence.

me, i'm on the opposite end.  my disability has recently been diagnosed after three years of failing health and i'm fighting to get disability and loan forgiveness.  the only thing i have going in my favour in this uphill battle is that i am one of the most stubborn people you will ever meet.  i will not simply give up and go away, i will not take their no as a final answer, i will not rest until i am satisfied with the end result.  then i can try and help others who get the run around and the short end of the stick.

check under the disability claims help forum - you are not alone in the run around you recieved.  the trick is to keep at it and not give up.  nothing worthwhile is ever easy, and nothing involving government is ever simple either.

professionals built the titanic but amateurs built the ark...
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hunter View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07/January/2005 at 5:20am
blueroom

It is really too bad that you have to fight for disability, but personally I know how they are.
My brother had worked for 35 years since the age of 16, and at the age of 51 was diagnosed with MS.
I would have to go over to his house on a daily basis and help him with putting his shoes on and helping him dress himself, as well as cook for him.
But he was told that he was not disabled, but he could still work at a deskjob. The man had been a labourer for all his life and has no clue on doing any clerical work.
So I wrote letters to you name it. I did find someone from the Head Office level here in Saskatchewan. I wish I still had the address. And I wrote a 7 page letter, after he was denied for the third time. I also contacted the Disabled Persons Dept for information and advice.

Finally many months later, my brother was approved.
He received back pay for one year.

So never give up, keep fighting until you are approved.
My brother is the kind of person that takes no for an answer. I on the other hand, will not.

Good luck
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