FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa, November 1, 2022 - The Government of Canada is making important changes to the Canada Student Financial Assistance (CSFA) through the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP). The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations knows that loan repayment can be very stressful for many people who struggle to find well-paying jobs after graduation. Since its creation, the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) has helped student borrowers to manage their debt, by mediating their government student loan payments.
As of November 1st, 2022, The Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Hon. Carla Qualtrough, has announced that the income threshold for RAP will be increased to $40,000 per year from $25,000 per year. This means that student loan borrowers will not have to make loan repayments until they make at least $40 000 per year. This will provide relief for an estimate approximately 180,000 Canada student loan borrowers each year, giving them financial relief in a time of high inflationary pressures.
“Raising the income threshold for the Repayment Assistance Plan and indexing it to inflation annually will provide relief for many borrowers struggling with the impacts of inflation,” said Mackenzy Metcalfe, Executive Director of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations. “The announced program changes will increase its usage and accessibility for borrowers in need.”
The Government of Canada will also lower the cap on maximum monthly payments, through the RAP, from 20% to 10% of a borrower’s household income. This ensures that people who have worked hard for their education can afford to pay back their loans at a reasonable rate and will give breathing room as they begin their careers.
The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations is excited to see this step in making post-secondary education more accessible to student loan borrowers and hopes to see continued system improvements for the Canada Student Financial Assistance program.
Learn more about the announcement here.
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About CASA:
Established in 1995, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit, national student organization composed of 23 student associations representing 275,000 post-secondary students from coast to coast. With its partnership with the Quebec Student Union (QSU), CASA represents a total of 365,000 students across Canada and presents a national student voice to the federal government. CASA advocates for a Canadian post-secondary education system that is accessible, affordable, innovative, and of the highest quality.
Contact:
Mackenzy Metcalfe
Executive Director, CASA
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 226-347-7656
James Caldwell
Government and Stakeholder Relations Officer, CASA
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 613-236-3457
