Saint John, New Brunswick, May 21, 2008-The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and the Honourable Kelly Lamrock, Chair of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada and Minister of Education for New Brunswick, today announced a federal-provincial-territorial partnership to provide students with simple, easy-to-manage access to financial assistance.
Currently, many of the federal, provincial and territorial student aid processes are cumbersome, time-consuming and paper-based. Working in partnership, the Government of Canada and the provinces and territories will implement a new Service Delivery Vision that will modernize and simplify the loans process, and make it easier for families and students to navigate the many loan programs presently available.
"Budget 2008 puts the needs of students first, by investing $31 million over the next four years to expand online services and improve communication to students," said Minister Solberg. "Families and students need straightforward solutions that they can count on from the time they start planning for post-secondary education to the time it is completed."
Over the next four years, the plan will be to expand electronic services so that students can self manage their loans online. Other benefits for students will also include streamlined services, reduced paper processes and better repayment services.
"Modernizing and simplifying the student financial assistance is a significant move, made possible through a strong partnership between federal, provincial and territorial governments," said Minister Lamrock. "These system enhancements will make a difference. The initiatives are already working successfully in a number of Canadian jurisdictions, and we are committed to building on these successes in order to ensure that all students benefit from an improved financial assistance system."
Student financial assistance in Canada is delivered through partnerships between the Government of Canada and 10 participating provinces and one territory.
Quebec, Northwest Territories and Nunavut operate independent student financial assistance programs and receive payments in lieu of direct participation.
The Council of Ministers of Education, Canada is an intergovernmental body founded in 1967 by ministers of education. All 13 provinces and territories are members. The Council provides leadership in education at the pan-Canadian and international levels and contributes to the fulfilment of the constitutional responsibility for education conferred on the provinces and territories.
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For further information (media only):
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
Tamara Davis
Coordinator, Communications
Council of Ministers of Education, Canada
416-962-8100 x. 241
The Service Delivery Vision for Student Financial Assistance is a national multi-year initiative that will provide students with simple, easy-to-manage access to student financial assistance information and services. The Government of Canada will work with its provincial and territorial partners to modernize, streamline and simplify student financial assistance. Key initiatives include the following:
- Improved online services
Under the Service Delivery Vision, students will benefit from online services that will enable them to view in one place up-to-date information on their federal and/or provincial or territorial loans. This change will provide a single point of access to important information such as loan status and balance, making it easier for students to manage their loan.
- Simplified and streamlined processes
As part of the Service Delivery Vision, students will experience a reduction in duplication as more federal and provincial or territorial processes are streamlined. When implemented, students will benefit from a Master Loan Agreement that captures all the terms and conditions of their loan over their entire study period, and that has the ability to confirm their enrollment for future years of study electronically. In addition, the Vision will allow students to apply for debt management measures once, and make a single payment for all federal, provincial and territorial loans.
- Coordinated communications
Communications with borrowers such as letters and phone calls will be harmonized and customized to eliminate repetitive and duplicate correspondence. This initiative will assist students in understanding their full financial responsibilities from application through repayment.
In Budget 2008, the Government of Canada announced several measures that families and students can count on from the time that they start planning for post-secondary education to the time it is completed. Among them was a commitment of $31 million over four years to realize the initiatives included in the Service Delivery Vision, making it simpler for families and students to navigate the many different loan programs currently available, and improving the support available to students who are experiencing difficulty in repaying their student loans.
