Skip to main content
Back to Bills
FederalPassed43rd Parliament, 1st Session

Bill C-15 explained in plain English

An Act respecting Canada emergency student benefits (coronavirus disease 2019)

Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.

At a glance

Jurisdiction
Federal Parliament
Legislature / Parliament
Parliament of Canada
Session
43rd Parliament, 1st Session
Bill number
Bill C-15
Full title
An Act respecting Canada emergency student benefits (coronavirus disease 2019)
Current status
Passed
Latest event
Royal assent received
Last updated
May 1, 2020

Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. MP vote breakdowns appear when the House of Commons publishes a recorded division export for that bill. Senate and House stage details include official debate/sitting links when LEGISinfo publishes them.

Chamber
Parliament of Canada
Current Stage
Royal assent received
Latest Activity
May 1, 2020
Plain-language explanation
In plain English (our explanation)

Our plain-language take, written for civic education.

Source: By PoliticalData.ca

AI-assisted, reviewed before publishing
Short Version

Bill C-15 authorizes the payment of Canada emergency student benefits to eligible students who lost work and income opportunities due to the coronavirus disease 2019.

What It Means

Bill C-15, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act, is federal legislation that was given Royal assent on May 1, 2020. It establishes a temporary financial benefit program for eligible students who experienced job loss or reduced income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill authorizes the Minister of Employment and Social Development to pay emergency student benefits to eligible applicants. An "eligible student" is defined as a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, or person registered as an Indian under the Indian Act who is either: (1) enrolled in a post-secondary educational program that leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate between December 1, 2019 and August 31, 2020; (2) a secondary school graduate in 2020 who has applied for enrollment in such a program beginning before February 1, 2021; or (3) a member of a class of persons prescribed by regulation. To be eligible for a benefit in any four-week period, a student must demonstrate that due to COVID-19 they are unable to work, seeking work but unable to find it, or working but earning less than a prescribed amount. Additionally, they must not be receiving employment insurance, other emergency response benefits, certain provincial benefits, or other prescribed income during that four-week period. Students must apply for the benefit by September 30, 2020. The amount of the benefit per week and the maximum number of weeks a student can receive payments are to be determined by regulation. The Minister also has authority to collect Social Insurance Numbers, require information and documents for compliance verification, and recover any erroneous or overpayment amounts. Benefits cannot be seized, assigned, or used as security. Any overpayments or erroneous payments must be repaid and constitute a debt to the Crown. The bill includes a six-year limitation period for recovery actions, though debts can be recovered at any time through deduction from future Crown payments (except tax benefits). Interest is not payable on overpayments. The Act required a comprehensive parliamentary review by September 30, 2021.

What This Bill Does
  • Authorizes the Minister of Employment and Social Development to pay Canada emergency student benefits to eligible students
  • Defines 'student' as a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, or person registered as an Indian who is enrolled in post-secondary education between December 1, 2019 and August 31, 2020, or who graduated secondary school in 2020 and has applied to such a program
  • Establishes eligibility requirements: students must be unable to work, seeking work but unable to find it, or working but earning less than a prescribed amount due to COVID-19; and must not be receiving employment insurance, other emergency response benefits, certain provincial benefits, or other prescribed income
  • Requires students to apply for the benefit in the form and manner established by the Minister, with applications closing on September 30, 2020
  • Sets the benefit amount per week and maximum number of weeks of payment to be determined by regulation
  • Authorizes the Minister to collect Social Insurance Numbers for administration and enforcement purposes
  • Authorizes the Minister to require persons to provide information and documents for verifying compliance with the Act
  • Specifies that benefits cannot be seized, assigned, charged, attached, or used as security
  • Requires repayment of erroneous payments or overpayments, which constitute a debt to the Crown
  • Establishes a six-year limitation period for recovery actions, with exceptions allowing recovery through deduction from future Crown payments at any time
  • Prohibits the charging of interest on overpayments or erroneous payments
  • Requires a comprehensive parliamentary review by September 30, 2021
Who Is Affected
  • Canadian citizens who are enrolled in post-secondary education or graduated secondary school in 2020 and lost work or income due to COVID-19
  • Permanent residents who meet the student and eligibility criteria
  • Persons registered as Indians under the Indian Act who meet the student and eligibility criteria
  • Protected persons under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act who meet the student and eligibility criteria
  • The Minister of Employment and Social Development, who administers the program
  • The Minister of Finance, whose consent is required for regulations
  • Any person from whom the Minister requires information or documents for compliance verification
Rights, Duties, Or Obligations
  • Eligible students have the right to receive a Canada emergency student benefit if they meet the criteria and apply by September 30, 2020
  • Students applying on the basis that they are seeking work must attest to the fact that they are seeking work
  • Students must provide any information the Minister requires in respect of the application
  • Students who receive erroneous payments or overpayments must repay the amounts as soon as is feasible
  • The Minister must pay benefits to eligible students who make a proper application
  • The Minister may collect and use Social Insurance Numbers for administration and enforcement purposes
  • The Minister may require any person to provide information and documents within a reasonable timeframe for verification or prevention of non-compliance
  • The Minister is authorized to make regulations defining key terms and amounts, with the consent of the Minister of Finance
Important Dates
  • December 1, 2019: Start date for determining student enrollment eligibility
  • August 31, 2020: End date for determining student enrollment eligibility
  • February 1, 2021: Deadline for scheduled start of post-secondary programs for students who graduated secondary school in 2020
  • September 30, 2020: Final deadline for students to submit applications for the benefit
  • May 1, 2020: Date the Act received Royal assent
  • September 30, 2021: Deadline for completion of comprehensive parliamentary review of the Act
Financial Or Tax Impacts
  • The Act authorizes the payment of emergency student benefits to eligible applicants, representing a new expenditure of public funds
  • The specific amount of the benefit per week is to be determined by regulation (not specified in the bill text)
  • The maximum number of weeks a student can receive benefits is to be determined by regulation (not specified in the bill text)
  • Students may work and still receive partial benefits if their income falls below a prescribed amount
  • No interest is payable on any overpayments or erroneous payments
  • Overpayments or erroneous payments become debts due to the Crown and must be repaid
  • Amounts payable under section 122.61 of the Income Tax Act (Canadian Child Benefit) are protected from deduction for recovery of debts owed under this Act
Enforcement Or Penalties
  • The Minister may require any person to provide information and documents by notice served personally or by confirmed delivery service
  • If a student provides false attestations regarding seeking work, they may be subject to overpayment recovery
  • Erroneous payments or overpayments must be repaid as a debt due to the Crown
  • Debts may be recovered by deduction from any future payments due to the person from the Crown (except tax benefits under section 122.61 of the Income Tax Act)
  • A certificate of default registered in the Federal Court has the same effect as a judgment of that Court and allows recovery through court enforcement
  • Recovery of debts may occur at any time through deduction or set-off, but court proceedings are subject to a six-year limitation period from when the money becomes due
Uncertainties Or Limits
  • The specific weekly benefit amount is not stated in the bill; it is to be determined by regulation
  • The maximum number of weeks a student can receive benefits is not stated in the bill; it is to be determined by regulation
  • The specific four-week periods for which students can apply are not stated in the bill; they are to be prescribed by regulation
  • The definition of 'post-secondary educational program' is to be determined by regulation
  • Classes of persons who may be eligible students beyond those specifically named are to be prescribed by regulation
  • The amount students must be earning to qualify for reduced-income status is not specified; it is to be 'determined under the regulations'
  • Which specific income sources count as 'prescribed income' that would disqualify a student is not fully detailed in the bill
  • The bill does not specify which provincial pregnancy and child care benefits would disqualify students
  • The Minister's discretion to regulate multiple aspects means many program details were not finalized in the Act itself
Laws Or Regulations Affected
Employment Insurance Act
referenced

The bill references the definition of 'benefits' from the Employment Insurance Act (subsection 2(1)) and an employment insurance emergency response benefit (section 153.7) as income that makes a student ineligible for the Canada emergency student benefit in a given four-week period

Source: Section 6(1)(b)(ii)

Indian Act
referenced

Persons registered as Indians under the Indian Act are eligible to receive Canada emergency student benefits if they meet other eligibility criteria

Source: Section 2 (definition of student)

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
referenced

Permanent residents and protected persons as defined in this Act are eligible to receive Canada emergency student benefits if they meet other eligibility criteria

Source: Section 2 (definition of student)

Canada Emergency Response Benefit Act
referenced

Income support payments under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit Act make a student ineligible for the Canada emergency student benefit in a given four-week period

Source: Section 6(1)(b)(iv)

Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act
referenced

Canada emergency student benefits are explicitly stated not to be garnishable moneys for purposes of this Act

Source: Section 12(d)

Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act
referenced

Canada emergency student benefits are not subject to bankruptcy or insolvency laws, and acknowledgment of debt may occur in proceedings under this Act

Source: Section 12(a) and Section 14(5)(d)

Income Tax Act
referenced

Amounts payable under section 122.61 of the Income Tax Act cannot be recovered by deduction, set-off, or compensation for debts owed under the Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act

Source: Section 14(2)

Federal Court jurisdiction
modified

Registration of a certificate of default with the Federal Court has the same effect as a judgment of that Court for recovery of erroneous payments or overpayments under the Act

Source: Section 13(3)

Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.

Official text

Parliamentary Process

Step 1
First reading
May 1, 2020
Completed

This artifact details the procedural stages of Bill C-15 in the Senate, including its first reading and a special committee of the whole session held prior to formal Senate consideration, culminating in Royal Assent.

First reading, May 1, 2020
End of stage activity, May 1, 2020
Chamber sittings
First reading - May 1, 2020

On May 1, 2020, the Senate observed a moment of silence for victims of tragedy, adopted procedural motions, held a Committee of the Whole to discuss Bill C-15 concerning student benefits, and subsequently passed the bill at second and third reading, with Royal Assent granted on the same day.

On May 1, 2020, the Senate completed the first reading of Bill C-15, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act, heard testimony on its subject matter, and passed the bill, which then received Royal Assent.

Step 2
Second reading
May 1, 2020
Completed

On April 29, 2020, the Senate completed all stages of Bill C-15, including second reading and consideration in committee, and the bill received royal assent on May 1, 2020.

Second reading, May 1, 2020
End of stage activity, May 1, 2020
Chamber sittings
Second reading - May 1, 2020

The Senate debated and passed Bill C-15, establishing the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, and the bill received Royal Assent on May 1, 2020.

In the Senate on May 1, 2020, senators discussed Bill C-15, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act, which was then passed and received Royal Assent.

Step 3
Third reading
May 1, 2020
Completed

The Senate completed its third reading of Bill C-15 on April 29, 2020, and the bill subsequently received Royal Assent on May 1, 2020, becoming law.

Third reading, May 1, 2020
End of stage activity, May 1, 2020
Chamber sittings
Debate at third reading - May 1, 2020

On May 1, 2020, the Senate considered and passed Bill C-15, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act, after hearing testimony from the relevant minister.

During the Senate's third reading debate and committee study on May 1, 2020, senators discussed Bill C-15, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act, hearing from the relevant Minister and expressing various concerns and support before the bill passed and received Royal Assent.

Step 1
First reading
Apr 29, 2020
Completed

Bill C-15, concerning Canada emergency student benefits, completed all stages in the House of Commons on April 29, 2020, received Royal Assent on May 1, 2020, and the Senate held a preliminary discussion on its subject matter.

Introduction and first reading, Apr 29, 2020
End of stage activity, Apr 29, 2020
Chamber sittings
Introduction and first reading - Apr 29, 2020

On April 29, 2020, the House of Commons introduced and debated Bill C-15, concerning Canada emergency student benefits, and subsequently passed it through all stages of the legislative process up to Royal Assent.

Bill C-15, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act, was introduced and passed its second reading in the House of Commons on April 29, 2020, following a debate among Members of Parliament.

On April 29, 2020, the House of Commons introduced and passed Bill C-15, respecting Canada emergency student benefits, following a debate on its provisions and potential impacts.

This artifact details the first and second reading debate in the House of Commons concerning Bill C-15, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act, where MPs discussed its provisions for students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The House of Commons introduced and passed the first reading of Bill C-15, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act, with extensive debate on its provisions and potential impacts.

Step 2
Second reading
Apr 29, 2020
Completed

On April 29, 2020, the House of Commons passed Bill C-15 at its second reading and referred it to committee, with the Senate also considering the bill's subject matter on May 1, 2020, before the bill received Royal Assent.

Second reading and referral to committee, Apr 29, 2020
End of stage activity, Apr 29, 2020
Chamber sittings
Debate at second reading - Apr 29, 2020

On April 29, 2020, the House of Commons debated and passed Bill C-15, establishing the Canada Emergency Student Benefit to provide financial support to students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the second reading debate in the House of Commons on Bill C-15, Members of Parliament discussed the proposed Canada Emergency Student Benefit, its financial provisions for students, and its potential economic and social impacts, before the bill was ultimately passed.

During the House of Commons debate on Bill C-15, members discussed the Canada Emergency Student Benefit as a response to pandemic-related job losses for students, with the bill ultimately passing second reading.

During the House of Commons debate at second reading on April 29, 2020, members discussed Bill C-15, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act, focusing on its proposed financial support for students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the bill was subsequently passed.

The House of Commons debated and passed Bill C-15 at the second reading stage, establishing the Canada Emergency Student Benefit to provide financial support to students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Step 3
Consideration in committee
Apr 29, 2020
Completed

On April 29, 2020, Bill C-15 completed its stages in the House of Commons, and the Senate considered its subject matter on May 1, 2020, after which the bill received Royal Assent.

Committee report presented without an amendment, Apr 29, 2020
End of stage activity, Apr 29, 2020
Chamber sittings
Committee report presented without an amendment - Apr 29, 2020

The House of Commons quickly passed Bill C-15, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act, after a brief debate on its provisions and potential impacts.

The House of Commons debated and passed Bill C-15, establishing the Canada Emergency Student Benefit to provide financial support to students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The House of Commons debated and passed Bill C-15, establishing Canada emergency student benefits, following discussions on its details and potential impacts on students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The House of Commons expedited the passage of Bill C-15, concerning Canada Emergency Student Benefits, through all stages of legislative review on April 29, 2020, following extensive debate and discussion.

The House of Commons debated and passed Bill C-15, establishing the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, to provide financial support to students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Step 4
Report stage
Apr 29, 2020
Completed

The House of Commons completed the Report stage for Bill C-15 on April 29, 2020, a bill that later received Royal Assent.

Concurrence at report stage, Apr 29, 2020
End of stage activity, Apr 29, 2020
Chamber sittings
Concurrence at report stage - Apr 29, 2020

The House of Commons completed the report stage of the Canada Emergency Student Benefits Act (Bill C-15) on April 29, 2020, after debate and procedural motions.

The House of Commons debated and passed Bill C-15, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act, to provide financial support to students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the House of Commons report stage debate on April 29, 2020, MPs discussed Bill C-15, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit Act, focusing on its support for students affected by COVID-19 and its potential impact on employment incentives, before the bill was deemed passed.

Members of Parliament debated Bill C-15, concerning the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, discussing its potential impact on students, eligibility, and work incentives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the report stage of Bill C-15, Members of Parliament debated the proposed Canada Emergency Student Benefit, discussing its support for students affected by the pandemic, potential disincentives to work, and broader economic recovery measures, before the bill was passed.

Step 5
Third reading
Apr 29, 2020
Completed

Bill C-15 completed its third reading in the House of Commons on April 29, 2020, and subsequently received Royal Assent on May 1, 2020.

Third reading, Apr 29, 2020
End of stage activity, Apr 29, 2020
Chamber sittings
Debate at third reading - Apr 29, 2020

During the third reading debate on Bill C-15, Members of Parliament discussed the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, its structure, and its potential impact on students and the economy.

During the third reading debate on Bill C-15, Members of Parliament discussed the provisions of the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, focusing on student eligibility, financial support amounts, and incentives for employment, before the bill was passed.

During the third reading debate of Bill C-15, the Canada Emergency Student Benefits Act, Members of Parliament discussed the proposed financial aid for students amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, covering eligibility, employment incentives, and overall economic support.

During the third reading debate on Bill C-15, Members of Parliament discussed the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, its structure, and its impact on students amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, before the bill was passed.

During the third reading debate in the House of Commons, MPs discussed Bill C-15, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, focusing on its support for students amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, before the bill was passed.

Step 1
Royal assent
May 1, 2020
Royal assent, May 1, 2020
End of stage activity, May 1, 2020
Chamber sittings
Royal assent - May 1, 2020

We don't have a plain-language summary for Royal assent yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

We don't have a plain-language summary for Debates of the Senate yet. The official source linked below is the full record.

Debate and sitting links point to official parliamentary sources when LEGISinfo publishes them. Any plain-language discussion summaries should be generated from those official texts and reviewed before public display.

Vote Summary

No published recorded division

This bill does not have a published recorded division in the current official sources, so representative-by-representative vote counts are not shown.

Sponsor
Carla Qualtrough
Sponsor party or district not listed
Jurisdiction
Federal Parliament

No published representative vote breakdown

The current official sources do not publish a recorded division breakdown for this bill, so there is no representative-by-representative table to show.

Official sources

Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.

How this data is sourced