Career Connect expands access to higher education

Islanders with an active Employment Insurance claim can now get the training they need to obtain long-term, meaningful employment.

Eligible Islanders can apply to receive their Employment Insurance while attending post-secondary training -- including universities – through the new Career Connect program. Applicants must be Island residents, have an active Employment Insurance claim with the federal government, and be enrolled in studies full-time.

“Combined with more than $30 million each year in federal and provincial student loans, grants, and bursaries, Career Connect is another option available to help reduce the cost of post-secondary education for eligible Island students,” Workforce and Advanced Learning Minister Sonny Gallant said. “Islanders are ambitious, entrepreneurial, and hard working, and our government remains committed to helping them receive the training they need to reach their goals so our entire province can grow and prosper.”

Government in the past year has made additional changes to assist students with the cost of post-secondary education including:

•    increasing the weekly maximum loan to $175;
•    indexing future increases to the weekly maximum to the Consumer Price Index;
•    extending the grace period before repayment begins from 6 months to 1 year;
•    introducing the defaulted loan rehabilitation program that allows borrowers to get back in good standing; and
•    introducing the Severe Permanent Disability Benefit which removes the amount owing for those with a severe permanent disability.

Career Connect is offered through Skills PEI and is part of the Labour Market Development Agreement with the federal government.

Applications for the Career Connect program are now available at Skills PEI.

Media contact:
Katie MacDonald
Workforce and Advanced Learning
902-314-3996
katiemacdonald@gov.pe.ca