VANCOUVER, BC - The Alliance of BC Students is relieved to see that the province has invested an additional $4 million towards emergency financial aid for post-secondary students impacted by the pandemic.

“Right now, students are dealing with rising housing costs, job losses, cuts to their hours, worsening mental health conditions, and more” said Grace Dupasquier, the Chairperson of the ABCS. “This additional emergency funding is an important recognition of the struggle students are facing, and their need for support.”

Students are more likely to be employed in tourism, hospitality and service industries, all of which have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and necessary health restrictions. Students also have to deal with an additional cost of living - tuition - that uniquely impacts their financial stability. Boosting emergency financial aid is an integral part of responding to the challenges post-secondary students are facing.

"Since the onset of the pandemic, we have heard from so many students who are in positions of extreme hardship," continued Dupasquier. “Any and all assistance at this time is critical, especially when we know how fundamental access to education will be in BC’s recovery from the devastation of COVID-19."

Statistics Canada reports that over 70% of students are experiencing financial concern as a result of the pandemic. A survey by the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations indicates that the pandemic has had considerable impact on student mental health, including dramatically heightened rates of stress, anxiety, isolation, and sadness. 75% of students reported that these mental health impacts were linked to their financial precarity. 31% of students in British Columbia feared they would have to take on additional student debt to finance their education as a result of the pandemic.