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I just found this online - the NDP's proposed first five improvements to the Canada Student Loan System (dated Jan 20-2007)
http://www.ndp.ca/files/BG-070119-savoie-PSE.pdf - http://www.ndp.ca/files/BG-070119-savoie-PSE.pdf
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Overhaul the Canada student loan system to be more flexible, fair, and responsive to the needs of student borrowers.
Federal-provincial coordination of student loan programs remains far from seamless. In coordination with the provinces, the federal government should seek to simplify and enhance the current student financial assistance system.
To begin, our First Five improvements to the Canada Student Loan system would be to:
• Increase the simplicity, transparency, efficiency, and positive client service of Canada student loans system by de-privatizing administration and collection and returning those mandates to HRSDC with sufficient administrative funding to accomplish the goals cited above. Create an on-line accounting system to provide up-to-date information for student borrowers about loan and payment amounts, due dates, and information.
• Increase regulatory flexibility with respect to debt reduction, interest relief, and permanent disability programs, such that individual circumstances are taken into better account. Hire more case staff to make those determinations.
• Amend the regulations of the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act such that student loans are not repayable until six months after the completion of full-time studies, including doctoral programs and medical residency. Currently, at the expiry of the 400-week "lifetime limit" on Canada student loans, students may receive no new loans and must begin repayment, regardless of their full-time status. Our amendment would make the lifetime limit apply only to receipt of student loans, not repayment, allowing students to complete their studies / residency before repaying their loans.
• Amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act to reduce the minimum period after which a student can seek bankruptcy protection for her student loans from the current ten years to two.
• Extend interest relief for up to one year for volunteer placements or non-university-based internships, which are often required for many modern careers.
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