Students in Montreal’s West Island are facing financial hardship due to the delayed payment of $12,000 grants that were promised as part of a government initiative to combat Quebec’s health-care labor shortage. Despite being told that they would receive the first installment of $4,000 within the first few weeks of training, six weeks have passed without payment. The delay has left many students struggling to make ends meet, particularly those who gave up their jobs to participate in the training program. One student, Tiffany Cooper, expressed her frustration over the situation and the lack of communication from the responsible authorities. She emphasized the difficulty of supporting herself and her family on one income and the increasing challenges in putting food on the table. Another student, Guy McLean, shared that he has had to resort to using credit cards to cover expenses, affecting his ability to focus on his studies. The Lester B. Pearson School Board has stated that it is not responsible for the payments and has reached out to the West Island health agency to expedite the process. The health agency acknowledged the delay, blaming technical and administrative issues. They assured that necessary measures are being taken to resolve the problems and that scholarship payments will be made this Wednesday. Despite the assurance, the students remain disappointed by the lack of transparency and the false promises that led them to invest their time and effort in the training program.
Quebec’s Health-Care Grant Delay Leaves West Island Students in Financial Distress
