Career Connect Program Review

On June 13, 2023 I asked questions about the Career Connect program that gives full-time post-secondary students who qualify the opportunity to collect EI while studying. I asked for a review of the program to ensure it is not creating a disincentive for students to work part-time while in school, and fill jobs where employees are needed. This concern was raised by a student in District 18 Rustico-Emerald while canvassing for the 2023 election. https://youtu.be/RX3kKosahR4 Mr. Trivers: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Career Connect program provides individuals who qualify for federal employment insurance the opportunity to receive EI benefits while studying as full-time post-secondary students.

Career Connect program

Question to the Minister of Workforce, Advanced Learning and Population: Do we have a sense of how many Island post-secondary students are currently participating in the Career Connect program? Speaker: The hon. Minister of Workforce, Advanced Learning and Population. Ms. Redmond: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you to the hon. member for the question. I certainly am happy to bring the number back. I do believe this program is super important for our students so that they have the ability to study and still have access to funding to support them. I know our staff work really hard every day with clients to ensure that they have those benefits, and I’m happy to bring the number back. Thank you. Speaker: The hon. Member from Rustico-Emerald. Mr. Trivers: Thank you, Madam Speaker, I look forward to seeing that number because on the face of it, the Career Connect program is a good program, and it seems to be a good idea, but I’ve heard from both students and employers that it might have unintended consequences. When I was going door to door in the last election, many, many people said, “Where are the young people that we used to see working, in particular, retail jobs?” And then I talked to students who said that they’re actually unmotivated to pick up extra hours and earn extra money, and therefore fill the part-time jobs that employers need, because it will cut into their employment insurance.

Review of Career Connect

Question to the Minister of Workforce, Advanced Learning and Population: How often is the Career Connect program reviewed with feedback from students and employers? Speaker: The hon. Minister of Workforce, Advanced Learning and Population. Ms. Redmond: Thank you, Madam Speaker. We certainly put programs in place to help students during their study period. We would not want to be a deterrent for them to gain employment throughout the times that they’re not studying. It is about advancing skillsets and getting experience and having the opportunity to study and do so. They do get reviewed regularly, what the circumstances are in place, and we certainly continue to talk with our clients, from a staff perspective, all the time to ensure that the program is meeting the needs that they have individually. Thank you. Speaker: The hon. Member from Rustico-Emerald, your second supplementary. Mr. Trivers: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Supporting our students while they go to school is very, very important, but also, giving them the motivation they need to work and not deterring them from that, and filling the many, many gaps in our labour force, is also extremely important. A question to the Minister of Workforce, Advanced Learning and Population: Would you commit to having your department do a review of the Career Connect program and work with the federal government department responsible for employment insurance to make changes to ensure it is not negatively impacting our PEI workforce? Speaker: The hon. Minister of Workforce, Advanced Learning and Population. Ms. Redmond: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you for the question. I’m certainly interested in furthering getting information on improvements that are needed for the program. Essentially, students go to school to move into the workforce, and we want them to be able to do that effectively and efficiently. We’ll definitely continue the conversations to ensure that program is not inhibiting anyone from working, or the workforce. Thank you.