MMF earmarks $10M for students

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This article was published 28/07/2020 (2098 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba Metis Federation announced Monday it would support Métis students with two programs totalling more than $10 million for the 2020-21 school year.

Some of the funding comes from the 10-year Post-Secondary Education Sub-Accord signed in 2019 by the federal government and the Métis National Council.

“This agreement ensures that Métis students in Manitoba will have access to much-needed financial and other student supports over the coming decade. Under Budget 2019, the MMF will receive close to $90 million over 10 years and $9.9 million for each year thereafter,” MMF minister of provincial education Joan Ledoux said by email.

Another portion of funding is linked to the federal government’s Canada Emergency Student Benefit. That program helps support students and new graduates who aren’t eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).

“We understand that our students, especially those who are currently in college or university, those who plan to go to college and university, or who are recent graduates. … We understand that you are suffering during this difficult time,” Ledoux said in a video announcement.

Ledoux added the federation knows what students are feeling regarding the impact of the pandemic.

See ‘No student’ — Page A2

‘No student will be left behind’: Ledoux

“We know they had planned to start a summer job in May. We know that they are now worried about how they’re going to pay their rent or their basic cost of living. We know they’re struggling to find meaningful work in light of the pandemic. … We know this is a critical time in their lives.”

The Post-Secondary Education Support Program totals $6.6 million for Métis university students for the 2020-21 academic year. This is the second year that the program is being offered. For the last school year, the program provided more than $2.3 million to 540 Métis students living in Manitoba.

This year, the MMF announced the program will not have an intake deadline and students will be able to apply at any time during the academic year.

The Metis Employment and Training Program will see an additional $4 million to fund Métis students in colleges and Métis students in the last year of their university degree program.

The COVID-19 Emergency Student Assistance Program is a $1.8-million fund to support students who have been financially impacted due to the pandemic.

“In order to be eligible for this, you have to be attending college or university or be a recent graduate,” Ledoux said.

The amount of additional assistance will be based on need, the federation stated in a news release.

“This year, we would like to see more Métis students going to universities, colleges, applying for these programs,” Ledoux said.

“I encourage you to take that step, just one step, and get that career that you’ve wanted. It doesn’t matter what your age is. This is the time.”

Ledoux added: “No student will be left behind.”

She also said that within three hours of launching the program at 10 a.m., close to 30 Manitoba Métis students were working on their online applications.

The application can be found online at mmfeducation.ca

» mletourneau@brandonsun.com

» Michele LeTourneau covers Indigenous matters for The Brandon Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism.