| # | First Name | Last Name | Please provide a comment or personal story. |
|---|
| 151 | Steven | Payette | I hope some improvements result, they are sorely needed!! |
| 152 | Jessica | Leclair | It is unfair that we, as students, have to pay so much to get education. It is more or less of a choice, we need education so we can get jobs. But how encouraging is it to pursue your studies when the expenses are so high and the government isn't on our side to help. All we here is get educated! But how about lending a hand with that. |
| 153 | Frank | Cerda | The Minister in charge should resign!
F X Cerda |
| 154 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I could've had my student loan paid off so could carry on with my life. But all the financial officers that were the liasons to my student loan said as long as I was in school fulltime I wouldn't have to pay the loan nor would interest be charged. I was still in school when I found out this wasn't true. I called the Student Loans people in Ottawa and they said it was true I didn't have to but then the person went to a supervisor and left me on the phone for about a half hour and came back to tell I would have to pay it back now. I was in school and had no way to pay it back. There was a point that I could've paid it back but opted to go for a graduate degree. I couldn't make the proper financial decisions based on misinformation. My whole life is affected in a very negative way by this misinformation by the banks and the government. There is no way that this should happen. Is this any way to treat the future generations of this country? Why not try on the shoe and see how it fits - see how it feels to have your life sent tumbling because the financial ground under your feet gives way! How would you like to go through the shock of that! |
| 155 | Anonymous | Anonymous | The term "usery" comes to mind when I think of how unfairly I have been treated: 13.75% interest has been charged on my student loan since the early 80's. I think that original loan amount of less than 10,000 has proven very profitable for the government as it has earned/charged at least 3-4 times that original amount since then. You (government) claim I still owe you money. I have no faith in government. Because of my experiences with your student loan system and your bullies (goons, your collectors) I do not vote and I can say I am embarassed to be part of this corrupt country. You suck! |
| 156 | Douglas | Laird | After a year long unsuccessful treatment for a disease, on a drug that makes you not care if you live or die, on a drug that irritated another genetic condition that is a serious chronic condition, then after diagnosis of heart disease, depression from severe joint and body pains, I am told that my income is going to be reduced. The banks have written my other debts off! Now all I have are credit agencies and government stressing me. It costs more to run government debt recovery than it would to make education free and EQUITIBLE. Yet on the other hand the collection agency owners are quite wealthy!!! Go figure... How do I finish my education now??? Homelessness sucks. So does waking up in a hospital and phoning work only to be told you don't have a job as an indirect result of your illness. But now I must start another year long treatment... |
| 157 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I am a currently a student that has paid almost $1000 in the last year and that was only the interest on my student loan. |
| 158 | Anonymous | Anonymous | It benefits Canadian society to have young Canadians recieve post secondary education and so more should be done to facilitate those young Canadians who chose / choose to and to encourage those who may be waivering. This effort makes good sense in light of the above. |
| 159 | Vivek | Duggal | I think the government should provide loan forgiveness without destroying the borrower's credit record. |
| 160 | Edith | Monette | I have no personal story to tell but hvae heard about some people who have had nothing but problems. Lowering the interest rate would sure help me to apply earned income to the needs of my children's instead of putting money into the pockets of the government. |
| 161 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I am currently in default and hardship and am on long term disability. I am having disability paying back my 40+ loans. I do not qualify for interest relief or debt reduction as these programs do not help me at all. There needs to be programs that will help people that are in situations like myself. |
| 162 | Tasja | MacGregor | I first obtained a student loan in 1996 as a young single mother. This was the year that MSSH stopped putting single mothers through college programs and encouraged them to take out loans.
Despite my many disadvantages I managed to graduate with very good marks, however, I was unable to transfer these skills into the labour market and found myself several years later, working for less then I was making before going to college, but now trying to pay back a student loan.
It has only been the last year that I have managed to find employment at $15/hr, however I must work graveyards in order to secure a full time position.
The interest on my student loans are incredible. I paid over $1800 interest in 2006. The strain and frustration have had a heavy toll on me.
This past year I was approved for debt reduction. This is a great relief for me. I may be able to improve my dreams from going bankrupt in 2010.
Getting an education should not be a handicap. I first went to post secondary school because I wanted to make a better life for my kids, however I would have been better off continuing as a bartender/waitress.
I was always encouraged into academics by teachers and career counsellors despite that fact this this was not practical for me or my life. |
| 163 | lisa | wrzesien | signing because I want to help. |
| 164 | Claude | Belanger | Even those on disability like mine (multiple Sclerosis) seem to have to fight all the way in order to get any respect or aid when financial difficulties due to disease. Miss a few payments at the bank (RBC) even after explaining your situation and off it goe to NCO!!! Thank you very much!!!!! You are here to help? I don't think do!! |
| 165 | Chris | Spinney | I graduated with over $50,000 in student loan debt. Due to the economic situation on the east coast I was forced to move to Vancouver to look for work. When I finally started my career I was barely over the income threshold for interest relief, and was forced to stretch my repayment out over 15 years. Even then I was still paying over 30% of my gross income to loans. Due to the cost of living in Vancouver I had less than $100 per month left for anything other than rent, utilities etc. Cost of living needs to be factored in to interest relief! On the east coast with a similar job I would have qualified.
Also the high interest rates on the loans mean that when all is said and done I will have paid over $100,000 for my education! It disgusts me how the government has slashed university funding, and has replaced that support with student loans that make people from financially disadvantaged backgrounds into lifelong cash cows for the government. |
| 166 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I AGREE!!!! |
| 167 | Anonymous | Anonymous | not working due to degenerative disc disease and it's impossible for me to pay loan |
| 168 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I agree with the petition and would like to say that the OSAP program should assist students and not make their lives hard by charging them high interest rates. The university tuition fees are sky rocketing. The job market is getting more and more competitive and on top of it all, we have to pay unimaginable interest on our OSAP. The cost of studying should not be that high. Government should encourage students to graduate from a university rather than detering them from getting a university education at all. |
| 169 | Chad | Turberfield | When you are unable to find employment in your given field, it takes forever to repay student loans on minimum wage. This happens far to often. |
| 170 | mary jo | oxtoby | felicitaciones well done
about time someone jogged the government, who spend OUR money, about supporting our future economic mainstays better! |
| 171 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I pay more than $400 in interest-only payments (a.k.a PROFIT) to the bank every month. I’m a little upset about a repayment plan that instills such fear of collection agencies and their tactics that I have become a submissive cash cow. To what purpose is all this? I need the money more than a greedy bank that profits billions of dollars every year. I need the money to be able to pay my student loans. The principle – that will never be touched unless the interest is reduced or eliminated... |
| 172 | Angela | Hansen | single parent, hefty student loan, used up interst relief, used debt reduction, payments are manageable but what if????? |
| 173 | Justin | Carter | Student loans should be income contingent, and interest should be guaged to inflation and that's it. I would highly recommend that you guys take a look at the HECS program in Australia. |
| 174 | David | Schreck | Better yet, reduce the need for loans by reducing tuition fees and by providing more grants and scholarships. |
| 175 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I am trying to survive on $1200 a month and my rent is $600. They want $280 a month from me. I am babysitting out of my house to support myself and my daughter. If I was to get a job outside of the house, that money would be taken by Student Loans. So,insead of actually catching up on my bills, which I have had disconnection notices all winter on all of them, that money would be taken from me and my daughter. If I could go back, I would NEVER had taken student loans out. It seems a scam by the government rather than an actual helpful program. The governement should be trying to help its citizens to be productive and assets to this country, not liabilities. |
| 176 | ryan | elson | My school stole my money by not living up to their promises, they went bankrupt, and the insolvency officer did not even contact me or any of the students. Why can't I go bankrupt, since my school was allowed to get off the hook with my student loan so easily? Why must I pay a rediculous interest rate when my interest relief forms were intentionally lost by NSLC/Edulinx?
I can't wait till there's an ombudsman so I can have my case heard, shame on this country for screwing over it's future educated workers. |
| 177 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I have been out of school for seven yrs. I did pay the full amount on my loans for a while but the payment was about $530.00 a month. So I changed to interest only payments. And when I lost my job I applied for interest relief several times. But my application always went "missing". It was also at this time that credit applications for loans etc. were being done without my knolwedge permission etc.Even though I investigted this no responsibility for lost interest relief applications by the dept. was ever addressed.
As it turned out I had no choice but to file for bankruptcy for the second time. It of course does nothing for my student loans. Due to paying three loans because the Govt. created a third branch here in Ontario I just couldn't keep up. My fiancial life is in ruins. I am so sorry I continued with my education I really would have been better of working at Walmart. |
| 178 | Chris | Thompson | I have many friends who still to this day are plagued by thier student loans. I went to trade school but if I had to pay that much, I would'nt have been able to and I would still owe money making me a less contributing member of the economic community. |
| 179 | Sulma | Portillo | Education should not be treated as a luxury or a privilege. We all have the right to education. The right to education is a dynamic life right to develop one's intellect and character, and to grow. |
| 180 | Scott | Mitchell | Complete beurocratic run around by what seemed like very incompetentent student loan system and staff. |
| 181 | Aidan | Carter | Money and education should be used by man to improve the lives himself and his fellow man. Instead these things are keeping him in bondage. |
| 182 | Jeremy | Clarke | The interest on my $17,9xx loan is killing me. I did not complete my studies and now am in default because I can't afford to pay $512/month. Now I cannot even return to school to finish because I can't get another loan. |
| 183 | Lori | Wysocki | Student Loans have ruined my LIFE! |
| 184 | Gregory | Swain | My student loan nightmare began in 1987, which resulted in being forced to declare personal bankruptcy, and has still not yet been resolved. |
| 185 | Anonymous | Anonymous | My loan information was put into another person's file. This made things very difficult for years with no recourse.
My parents became seperated while I was in University and I was told I would have to move in with one of them as they now lived in the city and I was no longer an independent student. |
| 186 | Lawrence | Aronsen | the arguments presented above are convincing |
| 187 | Katherine | Chicoine | Forms and information are a nightmare to decipher, sloppy and chaotic. CSL employees refuse to answer specific questions, refuse to mail out necessary forms. I've been screamed at, & abused with contempt. Very badly managed, a disgrace. |
| 188 | James | Hughes | if a country is going to succeed into the future, it requires educated people, so why give low rates for your students |
| 189 | sean | wickett | reform is needed before our system fractures anymore. |
| 190 | Wendy | McLean-Thibodeau | I could write a book on the horrors of student loans, as I'm sure most who've received one could. This petition for change is long overdue! |
| 191 | angela | baker | Never have I ever been treated like how I am treated because of a student loan when I hear of others applying for student loans I cringe knowing the problems and total abuse I have gone through. I think the government of canada should step up to the plate and start treating us with respect. All you have to do is go on the canada student debt website and you can read all the stories it is happenning to a lot of people and it is a shame. |
| 192 | Anonymous | Anonymous | I had to quit school because I ended up w a mountain of debt waiting for an appeal to an "overaward".
By the time I got my loan it was too late to catch up on my finances so I had to work full-time.
Later on I applied for interest relief it was denied becasue I could provide enough documentation..from my great "job" after almost 3 yrs of school - being a nanny.
In less than a month I was sent to collections.
3 years later nobody can give me a straight answer on how much I owe to whom and how to deal w it all.
Meanwhile the debt only gets bigger and I get horrible calls from collections.
I had decent grades and was 1 1/2 away from my degree.
Now I'm in debt w a horrible credit history and no hope of finishing my degree.
I almost wish I had never tried to go to school-university is not for the poor. |
| 193 | Anonymous | Anonymous | My mom's student loan has affected me personally emotionally and mentally. I have had to deal with credit agencies phoning and discussing with me(a minor) about my mom's debt. I would like to know what happened to canada abolishing child poverty. Indirectly my mom's student loans have placed us in the poverty lines let alone the harrassment from collection agencies. my mom makes the payments and still they call harrassing for more money what they want us to starve....maybe my mom should go on welfare instead of working and trying to pay the loan off. I want to go to Nait in 2 years but my mom can't afford to send me so what after what i have seen student loans are not an option for me thanks canada. |
| 194 | judy | orr | I have a son that has to work in Korea to pay his students loans. It costs to much to live here and pay off the loans. |
| 195 | Sheila | Giffin | Never even stood at chance of repaying loan. Family from the farm. Had to move away to go to school, get a job. Independly paying back loan, living in Toronto. No savings, no family, no car, no wedding, no house, no credit, |
| 196 | Nattasha | Lue | When I was on interest relief, the CSL cut me off when I got a new job and they calculated that I made 8$ more per month than was allowed according to how much I owed. I no longer qaulified for interest relief and was expected to pay approximately $430 a month.
I asked if I could pay a lower amount but they
would not accept a lower payment even though I lived on my own and had to pay rent, bills, food, etc. They suggested I move in with a roommate (I was new to the city and didn't know anyone). To make a long story short, I ended up defaulting, my loan was put into collections, and I am now in credit counselling, where I can't even rebuild my credit until my loan is paid off.
All because of a measly 8 dollars a month. |
| 197 | Melanie | Fiddler | I took out a student loan with the understanding that when I completed the course successfully I would be able to receive a debt reduction, just when my time in university came and I to apply for this, the rules changed and this opportunity was no longer available./ If I knew this would have been the case I would have never taken out a loan. Also I feel like I was mislead to believe if I get a degree I would have a good life for me and my kids, found out reality is its about who you know, NOT what you know, I would have prefered to stay ignorant and debt free. As my kids and I were deeply disappointed other problems developed instead. Misadvertising should be outlawed. |
| 198 | Anonymous | Anonymous | Graduated in 1995, could not get a single loan payment at a fixed monthly amount. Went to court, lost. Cannot declare bankruptcy due to the law (10 yrs +). Slave to the debt, and currently unemployed... only choices are to go underground or leave the Country... very sad situation. Tried every legal means, payment negotiations, working hard, but no result. Fed up and really don't care about the Canadian Gov., anymore... perhaps they should make amends on their errors ? HRDC scandel, 1 Billion for a gun registry ???? Would like to see accountability on the Government's behalf, and great improvement for student loan reporting, repayment, and bankruptcy options or alternatives. |
| 199 | gillian | ducharme | I have been paying my student loans since 1998 ($60,000) and I have another 5 years to go at 8.5% interest. It still keeps me up at night. |
| 200 | Lesley | Kent | University student loan debt has destroyed me. I should have stayed on welfare. My child and I would have much more stability if I had. I will not be advising others to quit welfare and go back to school, as it is not a feasible existence. |
