What is a repayment assistance plan?

Under Canadian law, a repayment assistance plan involves the government partially paying an individual's student loan debt. The first stage consists of the student paying as much as they can reasonably afford, which goes directly toward paying down the principal debt. The government covers the interest costs. If this does not end the debt, the individual may proceed to Stage Two, in which the government continues to assist, possibly paying some or all of the principal debt in addition to the interest.