Jeannine Mitchell's blog

Oh, Alberta Student Loan Relief, we hardly knew ye.

We get a lot of Alberta users on this site. So I've always felt bad that we didn't have more information for them on the only program that actually reduced (by a bit) their Alberta student loan debt.

The program was called Alberta Student Loan Relief.

We’ve had a few articles, of course, but why didn’t we have more details?

Dear Albertan readers, our lack of detailed information wasn't for lack of trying.

 
You may have noticed that I don't say that much about education policy on the 'Debt 101' website.
 
Usually, I just explain how the system works. And suggest ways for students and grads to survive it.
 
But of course, I'm very concerned about our higher education policy. I care about equal access and quality -- and the destructive effects of loading students up with debt.
 
That's wrong on so many levels - from moral to macro-economic. 
 

Some of the changes at Student Finance 101 this week may have you rubbing your eyes. And there are further improvements on the way! We'll roll them out over the next few months.

Of course, we have a shoestring budget and we're all volunteers, so without a fairy godmother, our help-site won't look as flash as the sites of big-buck organizations. But we're proud to have so much to offer. Above all, we've got great content and our hearts are in the right place. But with the redesign work going on, we plan to serve you even better!

 
To those in other provinces, Quebec students may seem to have it comparatively easy.
 
Ok, they don't have the greatest repayment aid system. But for years, they've had Canada's lowest tuition fees.  
 
Now how did that happen?
 
Is it because Quebec is the richest province? No. 
 
Is it because universities in Quebec don't have similar costs to those in, say, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Alberta? No, no and no. 
 

Want to declare bankruptcy on your student loans?

It's not easy and for most people, it's probably not the right route. But yes, it can be done.

We walk you through Canada's student loan bankruptcy rules in Debt 101's new Q & A on Student Loan Bankruptcy (Basic). In this new feature, well-known bankruptcy trustee Douglas Hoyes explains the law, then looks at real-life cases.