Full time international students at colleges and universities in New Brunswick are now eligible for Medicare coverage including their spouses and dependents.
New Brunswick Student Alliance Executive Director Robert Burroughs says this ends the feeling of limbo for students since the intent was announced by government in February but no official announcement had come.
“So we know that there’s an average of about $1,000 in additional medical insurance costs for international students that Canadian and domestic students don’t necessarily have to pay,” says Burroughs. “So from that perspective, it’s a great support [in terms of] affordability.”
Post Secondary Education Minister Roger Melanson announces full time international students will be eligible for Medicare coverage at #NB universities & colleges. Spouses & dependents eligible also. #Moncton #MonctonNews #NBNews #NBeducation pic.twitter.com/bRW4F44mrn
— Dave Heintzman (@daveheintzman) October 6, 2017
Burroughs says there’s a second important component here, relating to an important question international students ask themselves regarding their place here in New Brunswick.
“That sense of belonging, that sense of community, that sense of “I do belong here and I’m a functioning member of New Brunswick and I’m treated as such,” says Burroughs. “For our government to come out and say “We will treat you the same way that we treat all other residents of New Brunswick is a very powerful symbol and a very powerful message to send to students all around the world.”
Burroughs adds there are 2,200 international students in all of New Brunswick, and for many of them in graduate or post graduate programs, they do have families or other dependents they are bringing with them.
He says New Brunswick was the only remaining Atlantic Canadian province not to provide a similar type of service to international students, which put this province at a recruiting disadvantage.
“So we went to government and said look, we know that our enrollment numbers are a bit soft, we know that recruitment is an issue for New Brunswick and we know that the largest, fastest growing block of students in enrollments are international students,” says Burroughs. “So we have to take care of them and we have to show them this is a place that they can come and settle down in.”
Minister of Post Secondary Education Roger Melanson says this program will cost an estimated $275,000 to $325,000 per year.
He maintains it is an investment in our future as a province by encouraging international students to remain here after school.
Melanson adds immigration is critical to future growth as well, and this decision is helping to level the playing field since seven other provinces offer similar programs already.
This will help make New Brunswick more competitive in the world of attracting international students, affirms Melanson.
