In early July, Canada’s Auditor General released a report that called on the federal government to step up its recovery of outstanding student loans, stating that outstanding student loans were an unfair burden on taxpayers in BC. Yet the report ignores the root cause of student debt – historically high tuition fee levels – and instead seeks to further penalize people who cannot afford to pay for their post-secondary education up-front.

The BC Federation of Students condemns the violence perpetrated by the RCMP officer against a UBC Okanagan student during a “wellness check” in early 2020. The willful ignorance and use of force against the student, which recently became public, is inexcusable.

The whole world is watching the most recent events of police brutality, with George Floyd as one of the most recent victims, being murdered by Minnesota Police Officers. As protests have broken out across the United States we have all been a witness to police violence against protestors.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a severe lack of jobs for students, who typically rely on summer employment to save up for the high expenses of next year’s tuition fees and other costs. Even if they can access the Canada Emergency Response Benefit or the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, the amount they receive is only enough to sustain them on an immediate timeframe (money for food, rent, and little else).

April 22, 2020 marks the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, an annual event that draws attention to the ongoing need for great environmental protections on our planet. The current COVID-19 crisis has given us the unique opportunity to see what our world could look like if we step up and combat climate change.

The Federal Government has announced the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB), a program that will provide some relief to those students who do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). While this new program addresses some of the gaps in eligibility for the CERB, it provides markedly less financial support to students.

BC’s Temporary Rental Supplement program provides a rental supplement of up to $500 per month, which is paid directly to landlords. However, many students do not qualify for this program because of the unique nature of their (un)employment status.

The Federal Government has implemented a number of programs to assist individuals and businesses who are struggling due to COVID-19. Among these programs, Employment Insurance (EI) and the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) attempt to assist individuals cope with a loss of income.

The BC Government has announced an early launch of its mental health counselling and referral service for post-secondary students. The service, called Here2Talk, is a welcome aid for those currently struggling with the uncertainty brought about by COVID-19.