Liberal candidate François Cloutier announces “Canadian Learning Passport”
“The message we are giving every one of our kids is: if you get the grades, you get to go," François Cloutier, Liberal Candidate Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing
HEARST, ON – A Liberal government will open the doors for every young Canadian who wants to go to college or university with a historic new Learning Passport, Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing Liberal candidate François Cloutier announced today in Hearst.
“The message we are giving every one of our kids is: if you get the grades, you get to go,” said Mr. Cloutier. “Families right across this country are struggling to save enough to give their kids a post-secondary education. We’re standing with them.”
The $1 billion Canadian Learning Passport is the single largest annual investment in non-repayable federal student assistance in Canadian history, providing directly to families:
- $4,000 tax-free for every high school student who chooses to go to university, college or CÉGEP – $1,000 per year over four years; and
- $6,000 – or $1,500 each year – for high school students from low-income families.
Learning Passport funds will be provided through the Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). Students and their families will not be required to provide any matching funding to receive the Learning Passport.
“Investing in learning is essential for preparing Canadians for the jobs of the future,” said François Cloutier. “The Learning Passport will be a powerful tool for reducing barriers to attending college and university, increasing the flow of highly skilled workers into the Canadian economy.”
The Learning Passport will be part of a Liberal government’s Canadian Learning Strategy. The Canadian Learning Strategy aims to build the best-educated, most highly-skilled workforce in the world and also includes investments in affordable early learning and child care, Aboriginal learning, and expanding language training for new Canadians.
“We can strengthen families – without raising your taxes – if we stop corporate giveaways, control wasteful spending, and focus on what really matters: giving every Canadian the tools to succeed in the years ahead,” said Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.
