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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Forum LockedNDP's first 5 improvements to Canada Student Loans

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frustrated-guy View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote frustrated-guy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: NDP's first 5 improvements to Canada Student Loans
    Posted: 19/February/2007 at 2:37pm
I just found this online - the NDP's proposed first five improvements to the Canada Student Loan System (dated Jan 20-2007)
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Overhaul the Canada student loan system to be more flexible, fair, and responsive to the needs of student borrowers.

Federal-provincial coordination of student loan programs remains far from seamless. In coordination with the provinces, the federal government should seek to simplify and enhance the current student financial assistance system.

To begin, our First Five improvements to the Canada Student Loan system would be to:

• Increase the simplicity, transparency, efficiency, and positive client service of Canada student loans system by de-privatizing administration and collection and returning those mandates to HRSDC with sufficient administrative funding to accomplish the goals cited above. Create an on-line accounting system to provide up-to-date information for student borrowers about loan and payment amounts, due dates, and information.

• Increase regulatory flexibility with respect to debt reduction, interest relief, and permanent disability programs, such that individual circumstances are taken into better account. Hire more case staff to make those determinations.

• Amend the regulations of the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act such that student loans are not repayable until six months after the completion of full-time studies, including doctoral programs and medical residency. Currently, at the expiry of the 400-week "lifetime limit" on Canada student loans, students may receive no new loans and must begin repayment, regardless of their full-time status. Our amendment would make the lifetime limit apply only to receipt of student loans, not repayment, allowing students to complete their studies / residency before repaying their loans.

• Amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act to reduce the minimum period after which a student can seek bankruptcy protection for her student loans from the current ten years to two.

• Extend interest relief for up to one year for volunteer placements or non-university-based internships, which are often required for many modern careers.

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Buglady View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Buglady Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25/March/2007 at 5:12am
I knew there was a reason I love the NDP! Let's hope they can go somewhere with this.
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pogorelichfan View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pogorelichfan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26/March/2007 at 4:10am
I agree that these points are encouraging, but I'd be surprised if the current gov't was willing to take back control of the program.  Ultimately, doing so would probably solve most of the current problems, though.
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Debt_swimming View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Debt_swimming Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26/March/2007 at 4:27am

Is there a contact point for this proposal?

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