P.E.I. suspends student loan payments for Island grads in Fort McMurray

Island graduates affected by the catastrophe in Fort McMurray won't have to make their student loan payments until further notice.

P.E.I. Workforce and Advanced Learning Minister Richard Brown made the announcement in the legislature on Friday.

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"While the current situation is devastating, the aftermath can be much more challenging to comprehend and move forward from," Brown said. "These individuals have more important things to deal with than their student loans."

He said the government wants to help ease the financial burden of Islanders in Fort McMurray as they try to resume their lives.

"Any Island student graduates, who have made their way out West to Fort McMurray, given the current situation they are facing and future challenges, I am pleased to announce that my department has suspended their provincial student loan collections until further notice," he said.

Brown said the province has identified 25 Islanders with student loans who now have addresses in Fort McMurray, but he expects there are many more who are still using their P.E.I. addresses.

Those students will be asked to show their T4s to prove they work in Fort McMurray.

Affected students who wish to receive more information on their provincial loan status can contact Student Financial Services at 902-368-4640 or www.studentloan.pe.ca.

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