issue 28// vol 46

news // no. 5

Prime Minister amends Canada summer
jobs program to employ more students

» The changes will provide 70,000 new jobs for students

Adam Lachacz
The Gateway (CUP)

 

here will be 70,000 more full-time and

part-time jobs available for students
through the Canada Summer Jobs Program
due to a new announcement from the
federal government.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
announced several changes to the 2020
Canada Summer Jobs Program as part
of the federal government's response
to COVID-19 at a press conference on
April 8. The program provides wage
subsidies for non-profit, public sector,
and small business organizations to offer
employment to students.

The changes include an increase to the
wage subsidy to create an additional 70,000
jobs available for students. The length
of time students are employed through
the program is extended from August 28,
2020 to February 28, 2021. Additionally,
employers are now allowed to hire students
on part-time employment contracts. The
federal government is spending $263
million to initiate these changes.

Businesses offering employment
through the Canada Summer Jobs Program
will receive up to 100 percent of the
provincial or territorial minimum hourly
wage subsidized for each employee.

The changes announced today are only
“the first step” of the federal government's
response to COVID-19 and helping
students specifically. “I want to be clear, we
will be doing more,” he said.

The prime minister said the COVID-19
pandemic is affecting students and small
businesses in significant ways, requiring
the government to change the Canada
Summer Jobs Program to meet both of
their needs.

He said the changes to the temporary
employment program will ensure youth
stay connected to the labour market, gain
valuable work experience, save money for

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their future, and find quality jobs in safe
work environments.

“In this economic climate it is hard for
people of all ages to find work,” Trudeau
said. “But young people are especially
vulnerable. They are new to the workforce,
so they don't have a lot of money set aside
for this kind of situation. At the same time,
they need work experience to secure their
next job and money to cover their living
expenses and help with tuition for the rest
of their year.”

“Our government is also encouraging
all businesses who have been impacted
by COVID-19 to make adjustments so
work can continue,” Trudeau added. He
reinforced that all Members of Parliament

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will be asked to reach out directly to
community groups, non-profits, and small
businesses who did not apply to be part
of the Canada Summer Jobs Program to
ensure they employ students. He clarified
that the reason for the extension on the
length of time students are employed
through the program is to ensure that
quality employment opportunities for
students exist and are accessible even in
this global pandemic.

“We will also extend the timeframe
for job placement until the winter because
we know that some jobs will start later
than usual,” Trudeau said. “And because
many businesses have had to scale back
their operations, they will be able to hire

students part-time.”

Adam Brown, chair of the federal
student lobby group called the Canadian
Alliance of Student Associations (CASA)
acknowledged that the expansion of
the Canada Summer Jobs Program is a
“welcome” development but will only
provide an additional 70,000 jobs.

Brown, also the University of Alberta
Students’ Union vice-president (external),
said those jobs will be inaccessible to some,
like international students.

“This was a good first step towards
student-specific support in the COVID-19
situation,’ he said. “I think it is really
important that the federal government
recognizes that students are being
impacted economically and socially
differently”

“Supporting 70,000 jobs is good,”
he added. “But the other things that are
important is that employers are willing to
create those positions and the recognition
that those jobs are not available for all
students in Canada.”

CASA is continually in contact with
the federal government, Brown said. In
his opinion, Ottawa has been “receptive”
to their asks and overall advocacy. He said
he “eagerly” awaits what the next student
aid announcements will be from the prime
minister.

In an ideal situation, Brown said CASA
would want a post-secondary student-
specific aid package modelled like the
COVID-19 Canada Emergency Response
Benefit. The advocacy group has heard
complaints from students that granting
agencies are freezing financial support and
not offering as many scholarships as well.

“We want to make sure student grant
funding is still there... and that students
who may not be able to work can get
financial support in a targeted benefit
package that is ongoing so they can
continue their studies uninterrupted.”

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