VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, June 8, 2008-The federal government and the Government of British Columbia are working together to help students with student loans. The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and the Honourable Murray Coell, Minister of Advanced Education for British Columbia, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that works towards a federal-provincial partnership, making it easier for students to manage their student loans in the province of British Columbia.
"This partnership demonstrates our commitment to making student financial assistance more accessible to students," said Minister Solberg. "Streamlining and simplifying Canadian student financial assistance programs is a goal of the Government of Canada, and is a key element of recent investments announced in Budget 2008."
"The Campus 2020 report made it clear that student aid programs are more complex than they need to be, and we have been working hard with our federal and provincial partners to renew and improve the way we do things," said Minister Coell. "Student financial assistance is a high priority for the British Columbia government, and the new harmonization and single payment approaches in this MOU will be a great improvement for students in our province."
The MOU marks the start of an effort to improve the delivery of student loans in British Columbia to the benefit of students. By harmonizing the delivery of the Canada Student Loans Program and StudentAid BC, students in British Columbia will benefit by having one process through which to manage both their federal and provincial loans. Simplifying and streamlining repayment is a key priority for both governments. As a result, student access to financial assistance information and services will be simpler and less time-consuming.
For more information on student financial assistance, please visit www.canlearn.ca.
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For more information (media only):
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
Gordon Williams
Communications Director
Ministry Advanced Education
250-952-6508
