I have a couple of questions and concerns about the New RAP program.

1)      When will information be available?  Students are graduating this month and need to plan their finances.  When will program information and eligibility information be made available?

2)      The information on the Canlearn website says that Gross Income will be used. As stated in previous letters to HRSDC this is not an appropriate measurement of a person’s income available.  As in previous submissions, I recommend you change this to Net Income.

3)      The information on the Canlearn website says that the previous year’s income will be used to determine eligibility. How will a recent graduate’s income be determined. Also, if someone loses their job, has a significant decrease in income, works on contract, or is self-employed,  how will the program account for this?

4)      Will borrowers who are in default be eligible for this new program? Please note that in 2003 there was a higher than usual cohort of defaults due to the automated payment system going off line.  These people were defaulted through no fault of there own, and it has come to my attention that at one bank, student loan borrowers were defaulted by managers to remove the negative charges against their bonuses, and there were serious mistakes made by the NSLSC causing unwarranted defaults.

5)      Your website says that all borrowers will transition to the new system. Does this mean that the 15 year payment cap will be applied to these borrowers as well?

Could you please provide an answer to these questions ASAP.