Toronto 
The Government of Canada has announced that to ease financial challenges due to COVID-19 , the federal government will remove the restriction that allows international students to work only a maximum of 20 hours per week while classes are in session. This is subject upon the condition that they will be working in an essential service or function, such as health care, critical infrastructure, or the supply of food or other critical goods.
According to the news release, International students and their employers should consult Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada’s Guidance on Essential Services and Functions in Canada during the COVID-19 Outbreak to determine if the work the student is doing would allow them to work more than 20 hours per week during the academic session.
This temporary rule change will be in place until August 31, 2020.
According to Statistics Canada, there were more than 11,000 international students were enrolled in health-care programs at Canada’s universities and colleges in 2017–2018 and they represent about 4 per cent of health-care students at that time.
Today, the federal government also announced significant financial support for students and other young Canadians struggling to stay afloat and find jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new measures of nearly $9 billion include newly announced Canada Emergency Student Benefit and Canada Student Service Grant. Canada Emergency Student Benefit will give students $1250 a month from May to August.
