This website is a testimony to the problems Canadian Student Loan borrowers experienced from approximately 1996 to 2008 and until their loans were paid off.

The privatization of the Student Loans system by the Chretien and Martin Liberal governments broke the system and defaulted thousands of borrowers who were trying to pay their loans. There were even stories of suicide due to the harassment of borrowers.

Read the report that I prepared back in 2007 here. Canada Student Loans-The Need for Change Fortunately the new Conservative government at the time revamped the program and fixed the system for new borrowers, but borrowers under the previous program were left with ruined credit and continued harassment from debt collectors.

I call on the Canadian Government to apologize to the borrowers affected by this fiasco and make amends.

Unfortunately the Liberal government is again clobbering the Education system with their changes to International Student Visas. Yes, there's a problem, but instead of a well thought out plan, they have pulled the emergency brake on the train causing a derailment. This has introduced unprecedented instability for both private and public education institutions who serve both international and local students.

Universities have been forced to cancel programs and layoff hundreds if not thousands of full-time and contract instructors.

Again, the Liberal government has messed up the education environment.


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Feline View Drop Down
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    Posted: 18/August/2004 at 1:51pm

Greetings to all on the board, and my sympathies.

I've been coming here since last year but this is my first post and I thought it was about time to throw in my 2 cents worth.

 

I was a single parent on a temporary disability at the time I applied for student loans, in 1999 for a 2 year program in IT at a local college.

I had an operation to correct a medical problem, and wanted to get back into the working world and be a responsible taxpayer like everyone else.I really thought I was doing the right thing by getting re-educated with the hope of getting a good job. Isn't that what we always hear, "go to school, go to school, go to school, and you'll live happily ever after!!

In the IT course we were promised "jobs jobs jobs". What a crock that turned out to be! If I would have known there wouldn't be any, I wouldn't have done the program in the first place, but I guess I'm not capable of predicting the future. Shame on me!!

Unfortunately at first I didn't keep much track of what has gone down but it goes something like this:

first year loan with CIBC

second year loan with CSL

graduated 2001 with top marks.

Landed a temp job in Oct /01 till Jan /02. Had already begun paying both loans back in Nov /01.

 

Running out of cash by Jan /02 so asked for IR with the CIBC, waited and waited for the application form which never came.I had to ask again.

Finally it came but by this time it was past the deadline and because of their tardiness I couldn't apply anyway. Then my temp job was over but I managed to keep up the payments to CIBC and they actually arranged a revision of terms to make it easier.

Meantime my loan with CSL went into default. So I got calls from CSL to pay, and when I said I couldn't they suggested IR and sent me the application. But by this time I had no income to report so I had to put my partner's, even though I didn't want to do this because we weren't living together when I first applied for the loans.

Anyway, I didnt qualify cause "he makes too much money" based on gross income.(yeah, but by the time the @*&*%#&$ feds take half a paycheck for taxes, waste and squander (ie: sponsorship scandal, gun registry, governor general trips, rich fat corporate friends, etc, etc.) that doesnt leave much leftover for the average peasant trying to keep up with swamps of bills for shelter, food and the high cost of breathing. After a few more calls from them because of non-payment I got a letter from CSL saying my loan was sent to HRDC. So I phoned HRDC and was told to call NCO. Hmmm, that didn't sound good, so I called NCO and they had no record of it arriving there and that I should call HRDC back to see if I could arrange a payment to stop it from going to NCO. I called HRDC again and was told not to worry about it, that it would be looked into. Didn't hear back from them, but the next thing I know, I've got a letter from NCO to pay in full,(over 5 grand) or arrange installments. Also got a phone call at this time, threatening that I had to pay the full amount or else! Since then it's been calls, threats, and financial questionnaires full of nosy questions that I refuse to fill out and send. I don't answer the phone much, and I've heard it ring up to 26 times in a row (I know it's them because what sane person or friend would let the phone ring that long?). When they do manage to catch me, the callers (different one every time) always remind me that the interest is accruing at a dollar a day.Talk about getting discouraged! I know they can't do much cause I'm not employed but it's so depressing. That kind of interest on a jobless post-student should be illegal.

To top it off, recently I could have gotten a job in my field, that I have all the qualifications for, that I really wanted. But guess what?? I can't even apply because the job is sponsored by, guess who?? HRDC! And guess what, applicants have to have been on EI for the past 3 years! I haven't been on EI for over 20 years,

so I guess I'm not good enough to qualify! GRRRRRR! THEY WANT MY MONEY BUT WONT GIVE ME A JOB.

Can't win for losing!!!!

frustrated and angry out west

 

 

 

 
"The wind and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators" Edward Gibbon
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Casey View Drop Down
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Joined: 28/October/2003
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Points: 143 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Casey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18/August/2004 at 11:59pm

Welcome to the club! We share and feel your anger and frustration! It's not much consolation but you are part of an ever growing group of "Canadian outcasts". You might say we are the non people, the ones with no rights. A sad sad situation!   

How much longer will it take the government to hear our cries? ? ?

Casey . .

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Points: 5 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Feline Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19/August/2004 at 7:31am

Hi Casey,

thanks for the welcome.

Maybe what it would take for the government to hear us is if all of us unfortunates go to Ottawa and stage a hunger strike on parliament hill to get them to change some rules, like eliminating the interest, lowering the bar for IR, eliminating tuition fees. Maybe then we would have more means to pay back the loans.
"The wind and the waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators" Edward Gibbon
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Points: 314 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dazed&confused Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19/August/2004 at 9:05am
Feline, I like your idea of a hunger strike!!!  Just imagine the embarrassment to the government over the sight of thousands going hungry on parliament hill! Well you know, it worked for Mr. Gandhi....
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danny View Drop Down
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Points: 176 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote danny Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28/August/2004 at 10:50pm
i can only speculate thats the price we pay

some make it and some dont
Johnny save me!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Points: 640 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28/September/2004 at 8:46am
Feline

Funny you saying HRDC would not help pay for any training because you were not on EI.

Here's my story with them:

In Jan. 2001 I had received my first EI cheque and wanted them to pay for a computer class, they refused saying that I had Gr. 12 and a partial University degree and that I should go back and finish it. Yeah take out another $ 20,000 in student loans, no thanks.

After fighting with them for 10 months, still being denied. I did some research, mostly from their own website where it stated that there was much money for persons to take training courses while on EI, to benefit in getting computer jobs.
After being told deny, deny, deny.......

I heard some people in the local coffee shop that were on welfare and were being forced into taking this same training. SO I asked them some questions, and got their names and the names of the counsellors, and went back to HRDC armed with info (blackmail if you like).
The people at HRDC were flabbergasted, they denied it, I asked if they would like me to bring in these people for a confrontation they did not. HAHAHA

Also these same counsellors had been sending e-mails to a relative in my office, on their work time, and I took copies of jokes that they had sent on work time to friends and family members, they denied this too.

I was escorted out of the office, they threatened to call the police. On the way out, I said that I was going to the Leader Post and the news media to let people know about the so called funding.

I was told that they would pay for the course and some allowance, if I never talked or came back. So with my acceptance letter in hand, I was happier than a pig in poop.

At the end of the month when I went to get some money out of my training allowance there was $ 1600 in my account, I was told that I would be getting $800 per month not per week. I called HRDC and told them about the error, and was told that there was no error. SO fine they paid me $ 1600 for each month for 6 months. Other people in my class one had a baby she was single and she was getting only $ 1000.

So what was the extra money for.... To shut me up. I think so.

But who knows.

When the class ended, there was me and 15 others who were forced into the training, out of these 15, I was the only one that had secured a full time job one year later. Some had acquired part time jobs, but soon quit.

And to think that I had to fight so hard for this training. What a bunch of bull sh*t one had to go through to get some help.

I am glad I do not give up to easy in situations like this, I fight for what I belive in, you should not have to fight sometimes, but I am up for it anytime.
I thank my mother for teaching me not to back down, but to stand up and fight.

Shame on you HRDC.


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Ferren View Drop Down
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Points: 248 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ferren Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28/September/2004 at 9:26pm

Hey Hunter, I have had dealings with those stonefaced E.I bozos in Regina myself years ago. Never was able to get any help from them for anything. About the only good thing the Sask government ever did was New Careers. I spent about 16 months in that program and it really made a difference in my life. But that was quite a while ago and I don't think it exists anymore.
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Points: 5996 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SolveStudentDebt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29/September/2004 at 8:23am

 

 This is pretty much patched up now, isn't it Hunter?

Solve Student Debt specializes in solutions for students and graduates in student loan default, and those at risk of defaulting.

solvestudentdebt.com
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Points: 640 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29/September/2004 at 1:46pm
Johnny

Yes it is, it has been ages since the vultures called and harassed me.

Thanks for being who you are.
You are the greatest.

I KNOW
I KNOW
I have told you this over and over again

I am just making my point AGAIN
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