jswizzle3737/ontario_laws_and_regs huggingface dataset:
Application of this Regulation
 1. This Regulation applies with respect to micro-credential grants and micro-credential student loans issued for periods of study that commence on or after January 1, 2021.
Application For Micro-Credential Grant or Micro-Credential Student Loan
nan
Applying for a grant or student loan
 3. (1) An individual who wishes to obtain a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan must apply for it to the Minister, and the application must specify the period of study for which the grant or loan is needed as well as the approved institution and approved program of study in which the individual is enrolled or intends to be enrolled. (2) The application must be in a form approved by the Minister.
Period of grant or student loan
 4. (1) A micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan may be issued for no more than one period of study in the approved program of study in which the student is or will be enrolled. (2) An individual who wishes to obtain micro-credential grants or micro-credential student loans for more than one period of study must make a new application under subsection 3 (1) for each period of study. Eligibility
Eligibility for a grant or student loan
 5. An individual is eligible for a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan for a period of study if the Minister determines that he or she, (a) is a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) or a protected person within the meaning of subsection 95 (2) of that Act; (b) meets the residency requirement set out in section 6; (c) is enrolled in an approved program of study at an approved institution, as determined in accordance with sections 7 and 8; and (d) meets the financial eligibility requirement for receiving the grant or loan, as determined in accordance with section 9.
Residency requirement
 6. (1) An individual meets the residency requirement for a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan if, on or before the day the period of study of the approved program of study in which the individual is or is to be enrolled begins, either the individual or one of his or her expected contributors, (a) has resided in Ontario for a period of at least 12 consecutive months; and (b) has not resided in another province or territory in Canada for a period of 12 or more consecutive months since completing the 12-month period of residency in Ontario required under clause (a). (2) In determining whether an individual or his or her expected contributor has resided in Ontario or in another province or territory of Canada for 12 consecutive months for the purposes of subsection (1), the time that the individual or spouse spent in full-time studies at a post-secondary institution shall not be included. (3) Despite subsection (1), an individual who does not meet the residency requirement described in that subsection shall be deemed to meet the residency requirement for the purposes of issuing a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan if, (a) neither the individual, nor any of his or her other expected contributors, has resided in any province or territory of Canada other than Ontario for 12 or more consecutive months; and (b) the individual, (i) is or will be attending an approved institution in Ontario and, as of the day the application is made, the individual resides in Ontario, or (ii) has previously received such a grant or student loan under this Regulation.
Approved program of study
 7. (1) The Minister may approve a program of study as a program of study for which individuals may be eligible to receive a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan if the program, (a) is provided at an approved institution; and (b) consists of one period of study of less than 12 weeks. (2) For the purposes of clause (1) (b), the period of study of an approved program of study is the period of time that the approved institution considers to be the normal school year for that particular program for academic purposes, as determined by that institution. (3) The Minister may withdraw his or her approval for a program of study if the program ceases to meet the requirements established under the Act, terms established by the Minister or terms established in any agreement entered into for the purposes of the Minister’s approval.
Approved institutions
 8. (1) The following institutions are approved institutions for the purposes of micro-credential grants and micro-credential student loans: 1. Every university in Ontario, including any post-secondary educational institution that is affiliated or federated with such a university, the enrolments of which are counted for purposes of calculating annual operating grants and entitlements. 2. Every college of applied arts and technology established under the Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Act, 2002. 3. The University of Guelph — Ridgetown Campus. 4. Every Indigenous Institute prescribed for the purposes of section 6 of the Indigenous Institutes Act, 2017. 5. The Royal Military College of Canada. O. Reg. 768/20, s. 8. (2) An institution described in one of the following paragraphs is an approved institution for the purpose of micro-credential grants or micro-credential student loans, if it is approved by the Minister for that purpose: 1. A public post-secondary institution in Canada that is not described in subsection (1). 2. A private post-secondary educational institution that is authorized under the Post-secondary Education Choice and Excellence Act, 2000 to operate or maintain a university or to provide all or part of a program leading to a degree. 3. A private career college registered in Ontario under the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005. Note: On January 1, 2024, the day section 1 of Schedule 29 to the Less Red Tape, Stronger Economy Act, 2023 comes into force, paragraph 3 of subsection 8 (2) of the Regulation is revoked and the following substituted:
(See: O. Reg. 356/23, s. 1) 3. A career college registered in Ontario under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005. 4. A private post-secondary institution in Ontario, other than one described in paragraph 2 or 3. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 2.
Financial eligibility
 9. (1) An individual meets the financial eligibility requirement for receiving a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan for a particular period of study if, in the Minister’s opinion, the individual needs the grant or student loan in order to pursue the approved program of study for which the grant or loan application was made for that period of study. (2) When deciding whether an individual needs the grant or student loan, the Minister shall consider the individual’s education costs and financial resources and may consider other factors that are relevant in the Minister’s opinion. (3) The following are an individual’s education costs for an approved program of study at an approved institution for a particular period of study: 1. The tuition and other compulsory fees payable to the institution. 2. The estimated cost allowance established by the Minister for books and other instructional supplies. 3. The estimated cost allowance established by the Minister for such other expenses as the Minister considers relevant in the circumstances. (4) The Minister may rely on the financial information of the following individuals for the purposes of determining the proportion of micro-credential grant to micro-credential student loan for another individual (the “student”) for a period of study in an approved program of study at an approved institution: 1. The student’s parents or step-parents. 2. An individual who is the student’s sponsor within the meaning of the regulations made under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada). 3. The individual who, on the first day of the period of study, is the student’s spouse. (5) The amount of an individual’s financial resources for a particular period of study in an approved program of study at an approved institution is the amount of money that the Minister expects the individual to contribute toward the individual’s education costs for the period. (6) The Minister may rely on the information about the individual’s financial resources for the purposes of determining the proportion of micro-credential grant to micro-credential student loan for the individual. (7) The Minister may determine the individual’s financial resources having regard to the following matters: 1. The individual’s total taxable and non-taxable income from all sources. 2. The total taxable and non-taxable income from all sources of the individuals expected contributors. 3. The number of other individuals that, in the opinion of the Minister, are dependants of the individual. 4. Any other resources, assets or deductions of the individual and the individual’s expected contributors, if any, that the Minister considers to be relevant in the circumstances. Restrictions on Issuing a Micro-Credential Grant or Micro-Credential Student Loan
Restrictions on Issuing a Micro-Credential Grant or Micro-Credential Student Loan
nan
Restrictions
 10. Despite section 5, an individual who is eligible for a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan under that section may be refused the grant or student loan in accordance with sections 11 to 15.
Overlapping periods of study
 11. The Minister shall not issue a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan in respect of a period of study in an approved program of study that overlaps with a period of study in another approved program of study for which the individual has received a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan.
Individual’s finances; other loans, grants, benefits, etc.
 12. (1) The Minister may refuse to issue a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan to an individual in any of the following circumstances relating to the individual’s finances and financial resources: 1. The individual or his or her spouse owns, possesses or controls real or personal property that, in the opinion of the Minister, constitutes sufficient financial resources to meet the individual’s education costs. 2. The individual is entitled to receive student financial assistance from the Government of Canada or from the government of another province or territory of Canada or of another country. 3. After considering the contents of a consumer report of the individual’s current debts, the Minister is of the opinion that the individual will not repay the student loan. O. Reg. 768/20, s. 12 (1). (2) The Minister may refuse to issue a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan to an individual if the individual is in receipt of financial assistance under an educational program or employment training program funded directly or indirectly by the Province of Ontario. O. Reg. 768/20, s. 12 (2). (3) The Minister shall not issue a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan to an individual who previously received a grant or student loan issued under the Act for which amounts have not been repaid, if the individual, (a) was granted repayment assistance at the debt reduction stage in respect of the previous student loan under sections 31.1 to 31.12 of this Regulation, under sections 36 to 47 of the 2017 Regulation, under sections 35 to 40.7 of the 2001 Regulation, as those sections read on March 9, 2017, or under sections 12 to 12.12 of the pre-2001 Regulation, as those sections read on March 9, 2017 but that repayment assistance was not granted on the basis of the individual having been an individual described under paragraph 3 of subsection 31.5 (3) of this Regulation, under paragraph 3 of subsection 40 (3) of the 2017 Regulation, under paragraph 3 of subsection 39 (3) of the 2001 Regulation, as that section read on March 9, 2017, or under paragraph 3 of subsection 12.4 (3) of the pre-2001 Regulation, as that section read on March 9, 2017; or (b), (b.1) revoked: O. Reg. 71/23, s. 1; (c) was granted a reduction of the amount outstanding under the previous student loan under section 40.2 of the 2001 Regulation, as it read on October 31, 2010, or under section 9.4 of the pre-2001 Regulation, as it read on October 31, 2010. O. Reg. 768/20, s. 12 (3); O. Reg. 220/22, s. 3 (1); O. Reg. 71/23, s. 1. (4) The Minister shall not issue a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan to an individual who has been granted a severe permanent disability benefit under section 31.13 of this Regulation, under section 48 of the 2017 Regulation, under section 40.8 of the 2001 Regulation, as that section read on March 9, 2017, or under section 13 of the pre-2001 Regulation, as that section read on March 9, 2017. O. Reg. 768/20, s. 12 (4); O. Reg. 220/22, s. 3 (2). (5) Revoked: O. Reg. 220/22, s. 3 (3).
Actions of individual
 13. (1) The Minister may refuse to issue a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan to an individual if the Minister considers, after consulting with the approved institution at which the individual has been enrolled, that the individual has not made satisfactory progress in a program of study. (2) The Minister may refuse to issue a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan to an individual in any of the following circumstances relating to actions of the individual: 1. The individual has not made arrangements that are satisfactory to the Minister to repay, or has not repaid, any student loan or any other amount required to be paid to the Crown in respect of a loan, grant or award made by the Government of Ontario, the Government of Canada or the government of any other province or territory. 2. The individual has not given the Minister all of the information and documents required by the Minister to administer the program of awards, grants or student loans that the individual has received under the Act, including information about the individual’s academic status, financial status or family status during a period of study. 3. The individual has given the Minister incorrect information relating to any grant or student loan, or has not informed the Minister promptly about any change to information previously given to the Minister. 4. The individual has been found guilty of an offence under the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act, the Canada Student Loans Act or the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act or an offence under the Criminal Code
(Canada) involving fraud or theft in respect of any student assistance program or any loan, grant or award made by the Government of Ontario, the Government of Canada or the government of any other province or territory.
Bankruptcy
 15. (1) This section applies with respect to an application for a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan made by an individual who, at any time prior to the day of the application, became a bankrupt within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) or entered into a recognized arrangement for debt settlement. (2) An individual enters into a recognized arrangement for debt settlement when any of the following events occurs: 1. A proposal under Division I of Part III of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act
(Canada) relating to the individual is approved by a court under that Act. 2. A consumer proposal made by the individual under Division II of Part III of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) is approved or deemed to be approved by a court under that Act. 3. A consolidation order is made under Part X of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act
(Canada) in relation to any debts of the individual, including any student loans that the individual may have received under the Act. 4. A document seeking relief has been filed by the individual under a law in a province or territory in Canada outside of Ontario for the orderly payment of debts, including any student loans that the individual may have received under the Act. (3) The Minister shall not issue a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan to an individual who became a bankrupt within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) and who, at the time of the application for the grant or student loan, has not received an order of absolute discharge or certificate of discharge under that Act. (4) Despite subsection (3), the Minister may issue a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan if the individual satisfies the Minister that any grant or student loan made to the individual after a notice of assessment is issued to the individual will not be seized to repay the individual’s creditors. (5) The Minister shall not issue a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan to an individual referred to in subsection (1) who has previously received a student loan under the Act unless the individual otherwise satisfies the requirements of this Regulation for a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan and, at the time of the application, (a) there are no amounts of principal or interest outstanding on any student loans under the Act previously received by the individual; or (b) if the individual was released from the obligation of repaying any student loans previously received by reason of an order of absolute discharge or certificate of discharge granted under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), three years have elapsed since the day the order of absolute discharge was made or the certificate of discharge was issued. Notice of Assessment
16.
 16. (1) If the Minister determines that an individual is eligible for a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan and the individual is not refused the grant or student loan in accordance with sections 11 to 15, the Minister may issue a notice of assessment indicating the amount of the grant or student loan that shall be issued to the individual upon the conditions in subsection 18 (1) being satisfied. (2) The notice of assessment shall be in respect of all or part of a period of study in an approved program of study at an approved institution, all of which shall be specified in the notice.
17.
 17. (1) This section sets out the maximum total amount of a micro-credential grant and micro-credential student loan that may be issued to an individual for the individual’s anticipated enrolment in the approved program of study for the period of study specified in the notice of assessment. (2) The maximum amount is determined as follows: $5000 + $5 × H where, “H” is the duration of the program of study in number of hours as approved by the Minister under section 7. Obtaining a Micro-Credential Grant or Micro-Credential Student Loan
Obtaining a Micro-Credential Grant or Micro-Credential Student Loan
nan
18.
 18. (1) The Minister or a service provider on behalf of the Minister shall issue a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan if, (a) the individual has received a notice of assessment under section 16; (b) the individual has entered into a micro-credential student loan agreement under section 20; and (c) the individual’s enrolment in the approved program of study has been confirmed by the approved institution no later than 15 business days after the period of study ends. (2) The grant or student loan shall be issued in the amount set out in the notice of assessment for the grant, the loan, or both, as the case may be.
19.
 19. (1) The Minister may direct all or part of an individual’s micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan for a period of study to an approved institution to apply toward any amounts listed in subsection (2) that the individual owes to the institution if, (a) the individual is eligible to receive a grant or loan for the period of study; and (b) the institution requests the direction in a manner approved by the Minister. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the amounts are, (a) tuition and other compulsory fees for the approved program of study; and (b) other fees for the approved program of study that the individual has authorized the institution to collect.
20.
 20. (1) The Minister may enter into a micro-credential student loan agreement in accordance with this section where an individual applies for a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan and the Minister is satisfied that the individual is entitled to the grant or student loan and has a notice of assessment. (2) Where a micro-credential student loan agreement has been entered into by an individual, the agreement applies to the micro-credential grant and micro-credential student loan received under this Regulation by the individual in respect of the period of study set out in the agreement. (3) The terms of a micro-credential student loan are the terms set out in this section and sections 22 to 35 and in the micro-credential student loan agreement that the individual enters into. (4) The terms of a micro-credential grant are the terms set out in this section and sections 21 to 35 and in the micro-credential student loan agreement that the individual enters into. (5) Subject to subsection (6), the Minister may amend the terms of the micro-credential student loan agreement. (6) Amendments to the terms of the micro-credential student loan agreement are subject to both of the following rules: 1. For the amendments to be valid, the Minister must give notice by posting the amended terms on a website of the Government of Ontario. 2. The amendments shall only apply to micro-credential grants and micro-credential student loans issued for a period of study commencing on or after the August 1 that is immediately after the posting referred to in paragraph 1. Repayment of Overpayment of a Micro-Credential Grant
Repayment of Overpayment of a Micro-Credential Grant
nan
21.
 21. (1) The Minister may require an individual to repay to the Minister of Finance any overpayment of a micro-credential grant, or any amount of such a grant that exceeds the amount the individual is eligible to receive as a grant if, (a) the individual ceases to be enrolled in an approved program of study at an approved institution; (b) the circumstances of the individual or the individual’s expected contributors have changed, resulting in a determination that the individual is no longer eligible to receive a grant or is not entitled to the amount of the grant issued; (c) the Minister cannot, to his or her satisfaction, verify with the Canada Revenue Agency or through other means the financial information reported by the individual or the individual’s expected contributors; or (d) an error or mistake has been made. (2) The Minister may provide that a repayment under subsection (1) is not required, if in his or her opinion there are such exceptional circumstances of an individual or the individual’s expected contributors. (3) When repayment under subsection (1) is required, the Minister may take such measures as the Minister considers advisable in the circumstances, including applying interest on the amount owing. Maintaining Status as a Qualifying Student
22.
 22. (1) While an individual is a qualifying student, the individual’s obligations to pay principal and interest under a micro-credential student loan agreement or repayment notice, are suspended. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 5. (2) If the individual owes interest to the Minister under a micro-credential student loan agreement or repayment notice for a period during which the individual was not a qualifying student, and if the Minister asks the individual to pay the accrued interest for that period, subsection (1) does not apply until the individual pays the accrued interest. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 5. (3) The individual is not permitted to pay the accrued interest by means of a promissory note. O. Reg. 768/20, s. 22 (3).
23.
 23. (1) An individual is a qualifying student during a period of study for which he or she receives a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan. (2) An individual may be a qualifying student during a period of study for which he or she does not receive a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan, if the requirements set out in section 24 or 25 are met. (3) If an individual ceases to be a qualifying student for a period of less than six months, the individual shall be deemed to have been a qualifying student throughout that period.
24.
 24. (1) An individual who wishes to be a qualifying student during a period of study for which he or she does not receive a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan must comply with this section. O. Reg. 768/20, s. 24 (1). (2) The individual must continue to meet the requirements of clause 5 (a). O. Reg. 768/20, s. 24 (2). (3) The individual must obtain a document from the institution at which he or she is enrolled, confirming, (a) that he or she is enrolled in an approved program of study at an approved institution for the period of study in question; (b) that he or she is enrolled in an approved program of study at an approved institution under the 2023 Regulation, the 2017 Regulation, the 2001 Regulation or the pre-2001 Regulation for the period of study in question; (c) that he or she is enrolled at a secondary school within the meaning of the Education Act
and that he or she is taking at least the minimum course load required under subsection (4); (d) that he or she is enrolled at a designated educational institution as defined in the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act; or (e) that he or she is enrolled at an educational institution not described in clause (a), (b) (c) or (d) that is approved by the Minister for the purposes of this section and that he or she is taking at least the minimum course load required under subsection (4). O. Reg. 768/20, s. 24 (3); O. Reg. 86/23, s. 2. (4) For the purposes of clauses (3) (c) and (e), the minimum course load that an individual who is enrolled in a program of study at an institution described in one of those clauses must take in order to maintain his or her status as a qualifying student during the relevant period of study is, (a) a course load that is at least 60 per cent of what the institution considers to be a full course load for the period of study, in the case of an individual who is not a person with a disability; and (b) a course load that is at least 40 per cent of what the institution considers to be a full course load for the period of study, in the case of an individual who is a person with a disability. O. Reg. 768/20, s. 24 (4). (5) The document confirming enrolment must be given in a form approved by the Minister and must be certified by the institution at which the individual is enrolled. O. Reg. 768/20, s. 24 (5). (6) The individual must give the completed document referred to in subsection (5) to the Minister promptly upon becoming enrolled as described in subsection (3). O. Reg. 768/20, s. 24 (6). (7) Subject to section 26, the individual is a qualifying student under this section beginning on the first day of the period of study. O. Reg. 768/20, s. 24 (7).
25.
 25. (1) Even though an individual does not comply with section 24, the individual is a qualifying student during a period of study for which he or she does not receive a micro-credential grant or micro-credential student loan if he or she establishes to the satisfaction of the Minister that, (a) the individual was unable to obtain a document confirming enrolment under section 24; and (b) the circumstances that are required in order to obtain a document confirming enrolment under clause 24 (3) (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) exist. (2) Subject to section 26, the individual is a qualifying student under this section beginning on the first day of the period of study.
26.
 26. (1) An individual ceases to be a qualifying student in any of the following circumstances: 1. The individual ceases to be enrolled in the approved program of study in respect of which his or her most recent notice of assessment was issued. 2. The individual is enrolled in a program of study described in clause 24 (3) (c) or (e) and reduces his or her course load below the minimum required course load. 3. The individual withdraws from the applicable educational institution. 4. The program of study in which the individual is enrolled at the approved institution ceases to be an approved program of study. 5. The institution at which the individual is enrolled ceases to be an approved institution or to be described by clause 24 (3) (c), (d) or (e). 6. The individual became a bankrupt within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) or entered into another recognized arrangement for debt settlement. O. Reg. 768/20, s. 26 (1). (2) After an individual ceases to be a qualifying student, the individual is required to make repayments under a repayment notice which consolidates all of the individual’s micro-credential student loans made under this Regulation. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 6. Repayment Notice and Repayment Terms
Repayment Notice and Repayment Terms
nan
27.
 27. (1) If an individual who entered into a micro-credential student loan agreement under this Regulation has ceased to be a qualifying student, the Minister shall send the individual a repayment notice. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 8. (2) A repayment notice issued under this Regulation shall apply to all micro-credential student loan agreements that the individual has entered into. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 8. (3) The repayment notice must establish the amount and duration of the repayments to be made to discharge the principal amount of all outstanding micro-credential student loans issued under this Regulation and the interest on the outstanding balance from time to time, and the notice may provide for other matters. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 8. (4) If an individual who received a repayment notice subsequently becomes a qualifying student again, the Minister shall, after the individual ceases to be a qualifying student, send the individual a new repayment notice, which shall supersede the previous notice. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 8. (5) If an individual does not provide the Minister with a void cheque, a bank account number or with such other information or documents as may be necessary in order to collect payments in accordance with the terms of a repayment notice, the Minister may require a financial institution to make payments on the individual’s micro-credential student loans issued under this Regulation from an account at the institution that the individual has identified to the Minister. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 8. (6) The payments made by a financial institution under subsection (5) shall be made in accordance with the repayment terms set out in the repayment notice. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 8.
28.
 28. (1) An individual is not required to make payments towards the interest accruing under a micro-credential student loan agreement or repayment notice until the first day of the month immediately after the six-month period following the month in which the individual ceased to be a qualifying student. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 8. (2) The interest rate in effect on any day under a micro-credential student loan agreement or repayment notice is the prime rate on that day plus 1 per cent. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 8. 29. Revoked: O. Reg. 220/22, s. 8.
30.
 30. (1) The term for the repayment of a micro-credential student loan is to be determined by the Minister in consultation with the borrower. O. Reg. 768/20, s. 30 (1). (2) Interest on a micro-credential student loan begins to accrue on the first day of the month immediately following the month in which the person ceases to be a qualifying student. O. Reg. 768/20, s. 30 (2). (3) The borrower is entitled to repay all or part of the micro-credential student loan, without notice or bonus to the Minister, before the period for repayment specified in the repayment notice expires. O. Reg. 768/20, s. 30 (3); O. Reg. 220/22, s. 9. (4) The obligation to repay a micro-credential student loan terminates upon the death of the borrower. O. Reg. 768/20, s. 30 (4). (5) Instalments of the repayment of a micro-credential student loan are to be applied first to interest accrued to the date of the payment and then to the outstanding principal. O. Reg. 768/20, s. 30 (5).
31.
 31. The Minister may amend a repayment notice if the borrower notifies the Minister that the terms of the notice are such that the borrower will be in default and the Minister considers that an amendment to the notice will enable the borrower to meet their obligations under the notice. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 10. Repayment Assistance Plan
31.1
 31.1 In this section and in sections 31.2 to 31.12, “federal student loan” means a loan issued by the Government of Canada under the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act or the Canada Student Loans Act; (“prêt d’études fédéral”) “monthly affordable payment” means the amount that a borrower can reasonably afford to pay on all of their micro-credential student loans on a monthly basis, as determined under section 31.6; (“versement mensuel abordable”) “monthly required payment” means the amount that a borrower would be required to pay on all of their micro-credential student loans on a monthly basis, as determined under section 31.7; (“versement mensuel exigé”) “permanent disability” means any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment, or a functional limitation, that, (a) restricts the ability of a person to perform the daily activities necessary to pursue studies at a post-secondary school level or to participate in the labour force, and (b) is expected to remain with the person for the person’s expected life; (“invalidité permanente”) “persistent or prolonged disability” means any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment, or a functional limitation, that, (a) restricts the ability of a person to perform the daily activities necessary to pursue studies at a post-secondary school level or to participate in the labour force, and (b) has lasted, or is expected to last, for a period of at least 12 months but is not expected to remain with the person for the person’s expected life; (“invalidité persistante ou prolongée”) “provincial student loan” means a student loan issued under the Act or a loan issued to a student for educational purposes by the government of a province other than Ontario or by the government of a territory of Canada; (“prêt d’études provincial”) “qualifying student” includes a qualifying student as described in section 24 of the 2017 Regulation, a qualifying student as described in section 23 of the 2001 Regulation and a student or borrower deemed to be a student under section 11 or 11.1 of the pre-2001 Regulation. (“étudiant admissible”) O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11; O. Reg. 71/23, s. 2.
31.2
 31.2 (1) A borrower who is having difficulty paying amounts on principal and interest owing on micro-credential student loans issued under the Act may apply for repayment assistance in accordance with section 31.4. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11. (2) The repayment assistance available under this Regulation includes the following two forms of assistance: 1. A reduction in the borrower’s monthly payments on the micro-credential student loans. 2. Assistance from the Minister in paying off the borrower’s outstanding micro-credential student loans by making monthly payments on the loans. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11. (3) The amount of assistance provided by the Minister shall be determined so that, (a) in the case of a person receiving repayment assistance, other than a person described in clause (b) or (c), the recipient’s micro-credential student loans are repaid in full within 15 years from the day they last were a qualifying student or an Ontario Learn and Stay Grant student; (b) in the case of a person with a permanent disability who is receiving repayment assistance and who, in an application for repayment assistance, discloses their disability, the recipient’s micro-credential student loans are repaid in full within 10 years from the day they last were a qualifying student or an Ontario Learn and Stay Grant student; and (c) in the case of a person with a persistent or prolonged disability who is receiving repayment assistance and who, in an application for repayment assistance, discloses their disability, the recipient’s micro-credential student loans are repaid in full within 10 years from the day they last were a qualifying student or an Ontario Learn and Stay Grant student as long as they otherwise remain eligible for repayment assistance under paragraph 3 of subsection 31.5 (3). O. Reg. 71/23, s. 3; O. Reg. 86/23, s. 3 (2). (4) The assistance provided by the Minister to the borrower, whether by means of amounts paid to the Minister on behalf of the borrower or by any other means, shall be deemed to be a grant issued to the borrower under section 5 of the Act. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11.
31.3
 31.3 (1) There are two stages of repayment assistance provided under this Regulation: 1. Stage 1, known as the interest relief stage. During this stage, the monthly assistance provided by the Minister shall relate solely to amounts payable on account of interest owing on the outstanding micro-credential student loans. 2. Stage 2, known as the debt reduction stage. During this stage, the monthly assistance provided by the Minister shall relate to amounts payable on account of principal and interest owing on the outstanding micro-credential student loans as are required so as to ensure that the micro-credential student loans are repaid in full within the time period specified in subsection 31.2 (3). O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11. (2) Subject to subsection (4), the two stages of repayment assistance are consecutive and a borrower must receive the interest relief stage of repayment assistance for the full period of time for which it is available under subsection (3) before the borrower is entitled to receive the debt reduction stage of repayment assistance. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11. (3) A borrower may receive repayment assistance at the interest relief stage for a period of up to 60 months, subject to section 31.12. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11. (4) A borrower who meets the eligibility requirements specified in subsection 31.5 (1) and in either paragraph 2 or 3 of subsection 31.5 (3) is eligible for repayment assistance at the debt reduction stage without having received the interest relief stage of repayment assistance for the full 60 months referred to in subsection (3). O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11.
31.4
 31.4 (1) A borrower who wishes to receive repayment assistance shall submit an application for the assistance to a service provider. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11. (2) The application shall be in the form approved by the Minister and shall provide the service provider with information relating to the applicant’s family status, number of family members and family income, and such other information as may be required to determine eligibility for the repayment assistance. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11. (3) If the service provider determines that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements under sections 31.5, 31.6 and 31.7, the applicant shall be entitled to receive repayment assistance for a period of six months. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11. (4) If a borrower wishes to continue to receive repayment assistance immediately after the expiry of a repayment assistance period, the borrower shall submit an application for the assistance to a service provider no later than 30 days after the end of the six-month period. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11. (5) Subsections (2), (3) and (4) apply, with necessary modifications, to every successive application for repayment assistance made under subsection (1) until the borrower’s student loans are repaid in full. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11.
31.5
 31.5 (1) A borrower must meet the following requirements in order to be eligible for repayment assistance under this Regulation: 1. The borrower resides in Canada. 2. The borrower has submitted an application to the service provider in accordance with section 31.4. 3. If the borrower failed to make the monthly payments in a previous repayment assistance period, the borrower meets the requirements set out in section 31.11. 4. The borrower’s monthly affordable payment is less than their monthly required payment. 5. The borrower satisfies the eligibility requirements for the interest relief stage of repayment assistance described in subsection (2) or for the debt reduction stage of repayment assistance described in subsection (3). O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11. (2) A borrower must meet all of the following requirements in order to be eligible for the interest relief stage of repayment assistance: 1. Since the borrower last was a qualifying student or an Ontario Learn and Stay Grant student, the borrower, i. has not received any repayment assistance, or ii. has received repayment assistance at the interest relief stage for a total period of time of less than 60 months. 2. Less than 10 years has elapsed since the borrower last was a qualifying student or an Ontario Learn and Stay Grant student. 3. The borrower does not disclose a permanent disability or a persistent or prolonged disability in their application for repayment assistance. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11; O. Reg. 71/23, s. 4 (1); O. Reg. 86/23, s. 3 (1). (3) A borrower must meet at least one of the following requirements in order to be eligible for the debt reduction stage of repayment assistance: 1. Since the borrower last was a qualifying student or an Ontario Learn and Stay Grant student, the borrower has received repayment assistance at the interest relief stage for 60 months. 2. Ten years or more has elapsed since the borrower last was a qualifying student or an Ontario Learn and Stay Grant student. 3. The borrower has a permanent disability or a persistent or prolonged disability and discloses, in an application for repayment assistance, the disability. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11; O. Reg. 71/23, s. 4 (2); O. Reg. 86/23, s. 3 (1). (4) Despite anything in this section, a borrower who meets the eligibility requirements in this section shall not be eligible for repayment assistance if the Minister, (a) denies repayment assistance in accordance with subsection 14 (5) of this Regulation, subsection 16 (5) of the 2017 Regulation, subsection 42.1 (5) of the 2001 Regulation or subsection 13.3 (5) of the pre-2001 Regulation; or (b) has determined that the borrower is ineligible for repayment assistance for a period of time under subsection 14 (2) of this Regulation, subsection 16 (2) of the 2017 Regulation, subsection 42.1 (2) of the 2001 Regulation or subsection 13.3 (2) of the pre-2001 Regulation. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11.
31.6
 31.6 (1) For the purpose of determining whether a borrower meets the eligibility requirements of paragraph 4 of subsection 31.5 (1), the borrower’s monthly affordable payment shall be determined in accordance with this section, having regard to the number of persons in the borrower’s family and the borrower’s monthly family income. Table   Threshold amount for Family Income Column 1   Number of family members   Column 2   Threshold amount 

  1   $2,083 

  2   $3,254 

  3   $4,205 

  4   $4,959 

  5 or more   $5,652 O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11. (2) If a borrower’s monthly family income is equal to or less than the threshold amount set out in Column 2 of the Table to subsection (1), opposite the number of members in the borrower’s family, the borrower’s monthly affordable payment shall be a nil amount. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11. (3) If a borrower’s monthly family income is greater than the threshold amount set out in Column 2 of the Table to subsection (1), opposite the number of members in the borrower’s family, the amount of the borrower’s monthly affordable payment shall be equal to the lesser of, (a) the amount obtained by the following formula: A × B/C × 0.2 in which, “A” is the borrower’s monthly family income, “B” is the borrower’s total outstanding micro-credential student loans, and “C” is the sum of the borrower’s total outstanding federal and provincial student loans and, if the borrower has a spouse, the spouse’s total outstanding federal and provincial student loans that are in repayment under the Act or under the laws of the appropriate jurisdiction; and (b) the amount obtained by the following formula: A × B/C × 1.5 × [(A – D)/(100 × E) + 0.01] in which, “A” is the borrower’s monthly family income, “B” is the borrower’s total outstanding micro-credential student loans, “C” is the sum of the borrower’s total outstanding federal and provincial student loans and, if the borrower has a spouse, the spouse’s total outstanding federal and provincial student loans that are in repayment under the Act or under the laws of the appropriate jurisdiction, “D” is the appropriate threshold amount set out in Column 2 of the Table to subsection (1) for a family with the number of members in the borrower’s family, and “E” is the monthly increment for a family with the number of members in the borrower’s family, as set out in the Table to this subsection. Table   Monthly Increments Column 1   Number of family members   Column 2   Monthly increment 

  1   $250 

  2   $350 

  3   $425 

  4   $500 

  5 or more   $575 O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11. (4) In this section, “family” means the borrower, the borrower’s spouse, if any, and any person who is wholly dependent on either of them; (“famille”) “family income” means the borrower’s gross income and that of the borrower’s spouse, if any, from all sources less, in the case of a borrower with a permanent disability or a persistent or prolonged disability, any expenses related to the disability that are not covered by public health care or private insurance. (“revenu familial”) O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11; O. Reg. 71/23, s. 5.
31.7
 31.7 (1) For the purpose of determining whether a borrower meets the eligibility requirements of paragraph 4 of subsection 31.5 (1), the borrower’s monthly required payment shall be equal to the monthly payment obtained by amortizing the amount of principal on all of the borrower’s micro-credential student loans outstanding at the time of the application for repayment assistance over the appropriate period of time determined under subsection (2) and using the interest rate referred to under subsection (3). O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11. (2) The amortization period used to determine a borrower’s monthly required payment shall be the greater of six months and one of the following periods of time: 1. In the case of a borrower who is applying for repayment assistance at the interest relief stage, the number of months obtained by, i. subtracting the number of months since the borrower last was a qualifying student or an Ontario Learn and Stay Grant student from 120 months, and ii. adding the number of months that the borrower has previously received repayment assistance at the interest relief stage since the borrower last was a qualifying student or an Ontario Learn and Stay Grant student, if any, to the difference obtained under subparagraph i. 2. In the case of a borrower applying for repayment assistance at the debt reduction stage, other than a person referred to in paragraph 3, the number of months obtained by subtracting the number of months since the date the borrower last was a qualifying student or an Ontario Learn and Stay Grant student from 180 months. 3. In the case of a borrower with a permanent disability or a persistent or prolonged disability applying for repayment assistance at the debt reduction stage, the number of months obtained by subtracting the number of months since the date the borrower last was a qualifying student or an Ontario Learn and Stay Grant student from 120 months. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11; O. Reg. 71/23, s. 6; O. Reg. 86/23, s. 3 (1). (3) The rate of interest used to determine a borrower’s monthly required payment shall be equal to the average of the interest rates applicable to all of the borrower’s federal and provincial student loans, where the average is weighted based on the proportion of the borrower’s outstanding principal in each jurisdiction to the total amount of the borrower’s outstanding federal and provincial student loans. O. Reg. 220/22, s. 11.