The New Brunswick Student Alliance says an emergency response benefit for students during the pandemic is better late than never.
The $9-billion Canada Emergency Student Benefit was announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week.
KJ Conyers-Steede, executive director of the New Brunswick Student Alliance, says while the student benefit isn’t perfect, it will go a long way to help Canadian students.
“It provides students with a lot of the upfront costs of housing, food, that need to be taken care of as they move forward into the summer and September,” said Conyers-Steede.
One piece that Conyers-Steede believes is missing from the benefit is support for international students. He cited a report that international students contribute $100 million to the province’s GDP.
“The international students that are still in the province, that can’t go back home to work, they are falling through the cracks,” he said.
While students are likely relieved at the announcement of the CESB, which came weeks after the announcement of the Canadian Emergency Relief Benefit, Conyers-Steede said it is important to remember the benefit is taxable.
“This will be classified as income that students have to pay taxes on,” Conyers-Steede said. “I’m really encouraging students to save 30 per cent, so they are not surprised when a bill comes.”
The uncertainty of a global pandemic is not easy on any group, but students have the added uncertainty of looking for summer jobs, or beginning a career in an economy that has suddenly tanked.
Conyers-Steede says that can contribute to deeper mental health issues.
“You have anxiety, you have a wave of uncertainty,” he said. “A lot of people are falling through the cracks, and our students are scared.”
