The governments of Canada and Manitoba have completed the integration of the student loan programs, making it easier for borrowers to manage their student loans, Advanced Education and Training Minister Sarah Guillemard announced in a media release today.
“The integration of Manitoba and Canada Student Loans will make it simpler for students to keep track of their student loans while they are in school, and reduce red tape for borrowers in repayment,” said Guillemard. “Now student loan borrowers only have to make one monthly repayment, which will be applied to both the federal and provincial loans, and they will only need to interact with one organization to obtain information or make changes to their loan accounts. This ‘one student, one loan’ model will simplify loan repayment for Manitobans and these efficiencies will free up resources that can be used to offer other students aid supports.”
“We’re working with Manitoba to make it easier for students to manage their money and focus on their studies,” said federal Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Minister Carla Qualtrough. “Integrating federal and provincial loan and student aid systems means students will have a simpler and more streamlined process to manage their post-secondary finances.”
Previously, student loan borrowers had to navigate two separate systems to repay their federal and provincial loans, Guillemard noted, adding that both portions of student loans will now be repaid through the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) and Manitoba borrowers can now manage their student loans account through the NSLSC. Borrowers will also benefit from enhanced self-service options and access to extended call centre hours provided by the NSLSC.
Borrowers who received student loans for the first time in 2022-23 are already set up with integrated student loan administration and approximately 38,000 borrowers with existing Manitoba student loans will benefit from this change. Manitoba Student Aid will continue to handle assessments of new student loan applications, reassessments of loans and appeals for funding.
The Manitoba government supports post-secondary students by ensuring programs and financial supports are available to help students pursue educational pathways, develop the skills needed to participate fully in the community and contribute to a growing economy.
For more information on the Manitoba Student Aid program and the changes to student loan repayment, visit https://edu.gov.mb.ca/msa/.
For more information on the National Student Loans Service Centre, visit www.csnpe-nslsc.canada.ca/en/home
