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.


  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Student loands in collections and I'm on odsp.
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login


Forum LockedStudent loands in collections and I'm on odsp.

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
msdebt View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 05/June/2009
Points: 1
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote msdebt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Student loands in collections and I'm on odsp.
    Posted: 05/June/2009 at 3:28pm
I went to school four years ago.  At that time I was unable to handle my course load, and just as I became eligable to be acknowledged as a student with disability I left school due to illness.  I was sick for about a year after ward, and then I moved.  Loosing track of my mail notices from the collection offices.  Later I found out two months after it was moved to collections that my loans were both sent to collections and I was not eligable for osap and to continue my education till my loans were paid off.  Now I want to return to school and I feel stuck.  I can no longer qualify for osap because it is in collections.  How do I get out of this rut?  Osap delt with my course load as a normal student so I got penailzed for that.  I should of been considered a disabilities student and I wasn't.  I didnt even use my option to put forward the amounts owing for six months at a time, because I was too ill to deal wiht it.  Does any body have any adivise on how I get out of this so I can return to school? 
Thank You.
Back to Top
Sponsored Links


Back to Top
joiraida View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 12/July/2009
Location: Toronto
Points: 1
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote joiraida Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12/July/2009 at 9:48am
I really feel for you, msdebt. Someone I know is in a very similar situation. Here's some new information that may be of help to you.


Student financial assistance - Students with permanent disabilities

Budget 2008 announced a series of changes to help more students with permanent disabilities attend university, college or trade school. The key elements are:

  • Recognizing previous assessments of permanent disability in determining eligibility for specific debt-management measures so that students will not have to send in documentation repeatedly.
  • Treating all borrowers with permanent disabilities compassionately by eliminating time restrictions on forgiveness of loans issued from 1995 to 2000 (risk-shared loans).
  • Offering a new Accelerated Repayment Assistance Plan for borrowers with a permanent disability who do not qualify for immediate loan forgiveness.
  • Providing immediate loan forgiveness for borrowers who will never be able to repay their student loans due to a severe permanent disability.

Accelerated Repayment Assistance Plan. Effective fall 2009, an Accelerated Repayment Assistance Plan will be available to borrowers with a permanent disability. For the first time, Canada Student Loans will offer repayment assistance designed for borrowers with a disability. This assistance will ensure the following:

  • Disabled borrowers with low incomes will not be required to make loan payments, and will see their debt gradually written off over 10 years.
  • The calculation of repayment assistance will factor in the extra costs faced by disabled borrowers, reducing the amount of their affordable payment compared with that of other borrowers.

These changes build on existing programs for students with permanent disabilities, which include extended eligibility for loan assistance. Students with a permanent disability will continue to receive grant assistance similar to what is available through the Canada Access Grants for Students with Permanent Disabilities and Canada Study Grants for the Accommodation of Students with Permanent Disabilities.

The Government of Canada understands that students with permanent disabilities face additional barriers to post-secondary education. These new measures support the inclusion of students with a permanent disability by enhancing their ability to benefit from educational opportunities and to develop workplace skills while making it easier for them to repay their student loans if they encounter difficulties after school.


Back to Top
ingen0s View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 17/November/2009
Points: 1
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ingen0s Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17/November/2009 at 3:12am
Hi.
I am sort of in the same situation, have you found anything yet that has helped?
Back to Top
mbr View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 15/January/2013
Location: Toronto
Points: 2
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mbr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15/January/2013 at 4:27am
Hello msdebt,
I am a producer with a television channel that caters to Canadians with disabilities. I am currently working on a show that examines the Canadian Student debt and issues and problems around it. I wanted to follow up with you regarding your post and know what your journey has been like.
This is a massive problem that a lot of Canadians are dealing with. I would like to talk to you to discuss this in detail. My telephone number is XXX-XXX-XXXX. You can also email me at   *******   (@ and .)

I would like to thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Hope to speak with you soon.
MB
Back to Top
administrator View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 25/January/2003
Points: 1798
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote administrator Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15/January/2013 at 7:01am
MBR,
please contact me at webmaster@canadastudentdebt.ca   to verify that you are doing a story and provide credentials before I approve the posting of your info.

I would need to know if you are definitely doing a story or if it is just a story pitch at this time.   Many members have put in considerable effort in writing up their stories and agreeing to interviews, only to have wasted their time on what was only a story 'pitch' to show management and the story never happens (i.e Global's 16:9, CBC Marketplace to name a few) causing further discouragement.

I hope you can understand my skepticism and reluctance for members to go through this again. If you can please contact me and verify your credentials and that there will be a story I will be happy to approve a post with your contact info.


Administrator
Mark OMeara
Author of Let Go and Heal: Recovery from Emotional Pain
https://LaughSingWrite.com - http://bit.ly/heal2024
Back to Top
mbr View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 15/January/2013
Location: Toronto
Points: 2
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mbr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16/January/2013 at 4:37am
Hello msdebt, joiraida and ingen0s
I am a producer with a television channel that caters to Canadians with disabilities. I am currently working on a show that examines the Canadian Student debt and issues and problems around it. I wanted to follow up with you regarding your post and know what your journey has been like.
This is a massive problem that a lot of Canadians are dealing with. I would like to talk to you to discuss this further. My telephone number is 647-729-0968. You can also email me at maryam.bakhtiaratamidotca(@ and .)

I would like to thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Hope to speak with you soon.
MB
Back to Top
sweeneykitkat View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: 17/October/2013
Location: Canada
Points: 1
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sweeneykitkat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17/October/2013 at 11:15pm

I have been physically impaired by a condition known as Gastro Paresis for the last 4 years. I am now unable to perform daily activities necessary to participate in my college courses and am also no longer able to work at my job. I constantly experience the following symptoms:
- Chronic Abdominal pain
- Constant Nausea
- Vomiting (inability to keep any food down)
- Low Potassium, Magnesium, & Iron
- Muscle aches and weakness
- Hypersensitivity to touch and temperature
- Insomnia
- Dehydration
- Abdominal Bloating
- Stomach Distention
- Unintended Weight Loss of 120Lbs (current weight of 90lbs)
At this time there is no cure for Gastro Paresis, only treatments to help ease the symptoms. I went through many trials with medications but due to my weakened electrolytes each one caused bad side effects with no benefits. My specialist has told me attempting anymore could be potentially fatal. He has also advised against invasive treatments, since his past experience has not yielded enough recovery to jeopardize my health any further. At this time I have no recovery date and a loan of $28,000 that is about to enter repayment loan. The worst part is some of the loan wasn't even used for school, but instead used to help me as my illness first developed. I've heard of loans being discharged and am working with a bank representative to see what can be done, hopefully we can at least post pone the repayment mode for another year. Any advice on this situation would be greatly appreciated.
Back to Top
SolveStudentDebt View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group
Avatar

Joined: 05/November/2003
Location: Canada
Points: 5996
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SolveStudentDebt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18/October/2013 at 5:35am
GP is VERY nasty and I feel for you. I have a food-related allergy that causes that metabolic side effect. The effect of delayed gastric emptying mimics symptoms of food poisoning and sometimes norovirus.  Having this chronically is certainly debilitating because you really can't get out of bed for a couple of days until it goes. Raw ginger, cinnamon and unsweetened apple sauce are helpful too.
If you are entering repayment unemployed then use RAP to your advantage, and then gather your medical documentation from your gastroenterologist. If you are disabled then you have a better chance of having the student loan set aside in due time. It will take time but if the hardship illustrates severe extenuating circumstances than you will likely get through it :)
 
I hope that your condition improves. Symptomatically, it is really uncomfortable.
 
If you ever need to talk by all means I and many others are here for you!
 
Johnny
 
 
Solve Student Debt specializes in solutions for students and graduates in student loan default, and those at risk of defaulting.

solvestudentdebt.com
Back to Top
Diloui View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: 17/November/2017
Location: Simcoe
Points: 1
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Diloui Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17/November/2017 at 4:16am
I know this post is really old but did anything get solved?
I too am on ODSP and desperately want to go to school so that I can find decent employment. I had a loan in 1995 that wasn't fully repaid and can't afford schooling. Revenue Canada kept my tax return for years and it went to my loan. When it stopped I assumed my loan was repaid but apparently it isn't. Found that out when I applied for loan in 2011. Someone I know that was on Ontario Works had there schooling paid for as well as their driving licence paid for but apparently there is no help like that if your on ODSP.
Has anyone found any financial help with schooling?
Back to Top
administrator View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 25/January/2003
Points: 1798
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote administrator Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19/November/2017 at 12:31pm
John's advice is spot on regarding RAP for the earlier posting....  but for Diloui, the situation is somehwat different as it is a defaulted student loan.  Assuming it was an OSAP loan...... for an old load from 1995 you might have had a federal portion and provincial portion.  Tax returns likely  have gone to pay off the provincial portion, but the federal portion was likely through a bank, sent to collections and written off. It might be statute barred... i.e no longer collectible due to limitations but it puts a flag on your file with OSAP that you did not pay your loan back.  

You can understand the approach by OSAP.... we gave you a loan, you didn't pay it back...so we're not willing to risk more.... unfortunatly these policies don't take life circumstances  into account

The best thing you can do for further funding for schooling is to talk to your financial aid office at the school you will be attending.  They would know of any bursaries, grants etc....  It's ultimately up to you, but perhaps bring your OSAP assessment or letter stating you are ineligible for further funding and see if that actually helps.  Sometimes they need the assessment in writing to qualify you for the bursaries.

Administrator
Mark OMeara
Author of Let Go and Heal: Recovery from Emotional Pain
https://LaughSingWrite.com - http://bit.ly/heal2024
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.07
Copyright ©2001-2024 Web Wiz Ltd.