Good afternoon UNB,
Today, the UNB Student Union participated in a meeting with Trevor Holder, the Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour regarding the cancellation of the NB-EI Connect program.
In preparation for this meeting, we collected feedback from over 400 students who shared their stories of how the cancellation of the EI-Connect program will impact them. We heard how this decision will not only impact students financially, but will impact their mental health, may cause them to be unable to afford to finish their schooling, and impact their trust in the government to provide the support students need. We took that feedback and raised these concerns directly with the Minister, ensuring student voices were heard with the government.
While we understand the pressures, whether it be from the business community or the federal government, surrounding the cancellation of this program, it is unfair to hold students liable for improving conditions in the labour market.
The UNB Student Union came to this meeting with a number of asks, with the key ask being to waive the fixed student contribution from the formula for considering student financial aid. This decision would increase access to financial aid for all students, and offset the impacts of the cancellation of EI Connect.
The meeting was productive. The Minister expressed an understanding of the importance of bringing students into the fold on major decisions impacting students, and expressed an openness to collaborating to find solutions.
There was a commitment to continuing these conversations and working towards finding other measures to support students in both the short- and long-terms. The Minister and his team agreed to follow up on our ask later this week after reviewing it with their team, and we look forward to collaborations over the coming weeks as we seek a resolution to this issue in time for the school year to begin.
We understand the stress this decision is causing students, and are working tirelessly to find a solution that will work for students. As we continue these conversations, we will be updating students along the way so, please stay tuned for more information.