As Student Unemployment Rises, Funding For Summer Jobs Remains Unchanged

    OTTAWA, July 10 /CNW Telbec/ - The unemployment rate for students 18-24
rose by nearly five percent this month, to the highest level in nearly a
decade.
    According to a report released by Statistics Canada today, the number of
students aged 20 to 24 with summer employment fell by 43,000 this month.
Despite increasing unemployment, funding for the Canada Summer Jobs Program
remains at the same level as in 2006.
    "While Canada's economy has fallen into a recession, the federal
government has sat idly by," said Katherine Giroux-Bougard, National
Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "With students facing
record high tuition fees, summer employment is essential for many students to
be able to return to class this fall."
    Tuition fees and student debt are at record levels. Earlier this year
student loan debt owed to the federal government surpassed $13 billion for the
first time in Canadian history. The Canada Summer Jobs Program is a federal
government program that funds not-for-profit organizations, public-sector
employers, and small businesses to hire students for summer jobs.
    "With no increases in funding for the Canada Summer Jobs Program and no
commitment to reduce tuition fees or increase funding for grants, students are
wondering why they have been left out of the government's stimulus plans,"
said Giroux-Bougard.

    Founded in 1981, the Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's largest
student organisation, uniting more that one-half million students from ten
provinces.

For further information: Katherine Giroux-Bougard, National Chairperson,
[phone]; Noah Stewart, National Deputy Chairperson, [phone]