KEYS TO HER FUTURE
Student’s effort, character recognized when she is presented with a 2016 Nissan Micra
A new program is coming to P.E.I. that will allow students to collect Employment Insurance while studying at the University of Prince Edward Island.
Previously, only Holland College students had access to the program.
This news was announced during legislature Wednesday in response to a question posed by Hal Perry, MLA for Tignish-Palmer Road.
Perry wanted an update from the Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning regarding a question he had asked last fall about allowing students to collect EI while studying to help ease their financial burden.
Sonny Gallant, workforce and advanced Learning minister, said he will be making an announcement in the next couple of weeks regarding details for people who are eligible for EI when they go to post-secondary institutions.
“I would like to also state this bill is in over $30 million worth of assistance that we give to students on an annual basis,” said Gallant.
People will have to be out of the public school system for 12 months and have an active claim open in order to apply, said Gallant.
Perry said his constituents will be pleased with the news.
“That is going to help (many) Islanders, especially Islanders up on my end who have to come down here and have the (additional) cost of board,” said Perry. “I’m sure many students will have an interest in the program.”
Perry also asked how people go about applying for the program.
Gallant said more details will be announced in the weeks ahead but noted that there will be application forms through Skills P.E.I.