Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a massive $82-billion aid package to help Canadians and businesses cope with the global COVID-19 pandemic, including income supports, wage subsidies and tax deferrals.
The package includes $27 billion in direct supports and another $55 billion to help business liquidity through tax deferrals.
Combined, the package represents more than three per cent of Canada’s GDP. Trudeau said the deep spending and delayed federal revenue will not drive the country into recession, insisting “prudent” decisions made over the last five years have put Canada on a strong economic footing to weather the crisis.
“We will be able to make sure our economy gets back up to speed very quickly,” he said.
Parliament could be recalled as early as next week to pass legislation to bring in the fiscal measures.
The supports aim to help Canadians pay for rent and groceries, to help businesses continue to meet payroll and pay bills, and to stabilize the economy. Supports could start flowing in weeks, Trudeau said.
“No matter who you are or what you do, this is a time where you should be focused on your health, and that of your neighbours, not whether you’re going to lose your job, not whether you’re going to run out of money for things like groceries and medication,” he said.
The emergency aid plan includes:
A temporary boost to Canada Child Benefit payments, delivering about $2 billion in extra support.
A new Emergency Care Benefit of up to $900 biweekly, up to 15 weeks, to provide income support to workers, including the self-employed, who have to stay home and don’t qualify for paid sick leave or employment insurance. The measure could disburse up to $10 billion.
A new Emergency Support Benefit to provide up to $5 billion in support to workers who are not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment.
A six-month, interest-free reprieve on student loan payments.
Doubling the homeless care program.
Extending the tax filing deadline to June 1.
Allowing taxpayers to defer until after Aug. 31 tax payments that are due after today and before September.
$305 million for a new Indigenous Community Support Fund to address immediate needs in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation communities.
Other measures include a GST credit for low-income Canadians and special support for the homeless and shelters helping people escaping gender-based violence.
Trudeau said there is a “real” desire among opposition political parties to help Canadians, and he is confident that the measures can pass quickly in Parliament.
House leaders from all parties held a conference call today. Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez said his counterparts from the other parties expressed a desire to work collaboratively and in a responsible way to pass legislation to help Canadians as quickly as possible.
Watch: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the economy will recover
PM Justin Trudeau announced a $82 billion aid package to help individuals and businesses during the COVID-19 crisis and assured Canadians the economy will recover quickly. 1:06
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said his party will cooperate with the government because it supports measures that put money directly into the hands of Canadians. He said Conservatives would press the government to make sure that nobody who needs support falls through the cracks.
“We believe that in this time frame, when people are going through hardship in real time, that Parliament must react very quickly,” Scheer told Power & Politics host Vassy Kapelos.
However, Scheer criticized the finance minister for running budget deficits in previous years, which he said limits the government’s fiscal capacity during an economic downturn.
New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh said he’s encouraged by some of the Liberal proposals, but is concerned about the length of time it will take for people to access the funds.
“There’s people that we know right now are not able to work, don’t have the ability to earn any income, and have bills to pay,” said Singh. “People need help right away.”
Singh said New Democrats are willing to fast-track any legislation that will ensure money flows to people who need it most.
Watch: Scheer reacts to the federal government’s COVID-19 economic aid package
Minister of Finance Bill Morneau says the government will do “whatever it takes” to respond to the global pandemic. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
Virus will ‘be around for a while’
The number of confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada has risen above 700, with nine deaths — seven in B.C, one in Ontario and one in Quebec.
Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said today the country has seen a “sharp rise” in the number of cases and that indicates community spread.
She said Canadians should not invite others into their homes at this time and should work from home wherever possible.
Tam also warned that the virus will be around for a while and will not be eradicated from the world within months. People need to prepare for another “wave” that could come after an initial containment period, she said.
“You’re going to have to prepare as though this virus is going to have more than one wave. I think that’s the only prudent thing to do,” she said.
Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, P.E.I., Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon and the Northwest Territories have all declared either a state of emergency or public health emergencies in order to unlock resources and government powers to ensure access to critical supplies.
Late Wednesday, Saskatchewan also declared a state of emergency.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer says the federal government has reduced capacity to act during the COVID-19 pandemic because of previous budget deficits. 1:36
Finance Minister Bill Morneau said the impact of the pandemic is “profound” but assured Canadians the government will do “whatever it takes” to help them through the crisis.
He described today’s package as the “first phase” of planned measures.
“Usually, my job is to ensure we maintain our fiscal track, but right now as minister of finance, my only job is to make sure that Canadians can keep food in the fridge, that they can keep a roof over their heads, that they can afford the medicine that they need,” he said.
“We’ve entered this challenge in a very strong fiscal position. Canada’s balance sheet is the envy of the world and it means we have the fiscal firepower to respond. We’re now prepared to use it.”
Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says there are now 598 cases in Canada and eight related deaths. She says indicates a “sharp rise” in the number of cases and indicates community spread. 2:15
More information about applying for EI sickness benefits is available on the government’s website. Applications for the new benefits will open in April and will require Canadians to attest that they meet the eligibility requirements, and to re-attest every two weeks.
When the new benefits are available, Canadians can apply through the CRA My Account secure portal, through a My Service Canada Account or by calling a toll-free number the government plans to introduce, which will be equipped with an automated application process.
The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the global economy, sending stock prices diving and forcing businesses to shut their doors as governments institute lockdowns and other social distancing measures to slow its spread.
Today, Canada and the United States reached an unprecedented deal to close their shared border to non-essential travel, as both countries try to restrict the spread of the coronavirus.
Trudeau announced Monday the government was closing Canada’s border to all travellers except for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and Americans, with exceptions for flight crew members, diplomats and some immediate family members of Canadians.
Canadian businesses of all sizes are feeling the pain from shutdowns, cancellations and public fear as the number of confirmed cases rises each day.
Trudeau said Tuesday that Parliament could be recalled to pass emergency economic measures.
The government is also considering invoking the Emergencies Act, which would grant it extraordinary powers to restrict movement and regulate and distribute critical supplies during the pandemic.
Today, Trudeau said said invoking the act would be a “significant step, not one that we feel we need today, but not one that we are closing the door to in the future, if necessary.”
Today’s announcement is in addition to a $1 billion COVID-19 response package and supports for business already announced by the government.
Last week, Trudeau pledged $1 billion for increased public health measures. The package includes $275 million for additional research, such as vaccine development, and $200 million for federal medical supplies, supports for Indigenous communities and education efforts.
Another $500 million is going to support provincial and territorial governments.
The federal government has also waived the one-week waiting period for employment insurance claims related to COVID-19.
Morneau also announced last Friday the establishment of a $10 billion credit fund to lend money to businesses to help them continue operations.
VANCOUVER – Contract negotiations resume today in Vancouver in a labour dispute that has paralyzed container cargo shipping at British Columbia’s ports since Monday.
The BC Maritime Employers Association and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 are scheduled to meet for the next three days in mediated talks to try to break a deadlock in negotiations.
The union, which represents more than 700 longshore supervisors at ports, including Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Nanaimo, has been without a contract since March last year.
The latest talks come after employers locked out workers in response to what it said was “strike activity” by union members.
The start of the lockout was then followed by several days of no engagement between the two parties, prompting federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon to speak with leaders on both sides, asking them to restart talks.
MacKinnon had said that the talks were “progressing at an insufficient pace, indicating a concerning absence of urgency from the parties involved” — a sentiment echoed by several business groups across Canada.
In a joint letter, more than 100 organizations, including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Business Council of Canada and associations representing industries from automotive and fertilizer to retail and mining, urged the government to do whatever it takes to end the work stoppage.
“While we acknowledge efforts to continue with mediation, parties have not been able to come to a negotiated agreement,” the letter says. “So, the federal government must take decisive action, using every tool at its disposal to resolve this dispute and limit the damage caused by this disruption.
“We simply cannot afford to once again put Canadian businesses at risk, which in turn puts Canadian livelihoods at risk.”
In the meantime, the union says it has filed a complaint to the Canada Industrial Relations Board against the employers, alleging the association threatened to pull existing conditions out of the last contract in direct contact with its members.
“The BCMEA is trying to undermine the union by attempting to turn members against its democratically elected leadership and bargaining committee — despite the fact that the BCMEA knows full well we received a 96 per cent mandate to take job action if needed,” union president Frank Morena said in a statement.
The employers have responded by calling the complaint “another meritless claim,” adding the final offer to the union that includes a 19.2 per cent wage increase over a four-year term remains on the table.
“The final offer has been on the table for over a week and represents a fair and balanced proposal for employees, and if accepted would end this dispute,” the employers’ statement says. “The offer does not require any concessions from the union.”
The union says the offer does not address the key issue of staffing requirement at the terminals as the port introduces more automation to cargo loading and unloading, which could potentially require fewer workers to operate than older systems.
The Port of Vancouver is the largest in Canada and has seen a number of labour disruptions, including two instances involving the rail and grain storage sectors earlier this year.
A 13-day strike by another group of workers at the port last year resulted in the disruption of a significant amount of shipping and trade.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2024.
The Royal Canadian Legion says a new partnership with e-commerce giant Amazon is helping boost its veterans’ fund, and will hopefully expand its donor base in the digital world.
Since the Oct. 25 launch of its Amazon.ca storefront, the legion says it has received nearly 10,000 orders for poppies.
Online shoppers can order lapel poppies on Amazon in exchange for donations or buy items such as “We Remember” lawn signs, Remembrance Day pins and other accessories, with all proceeds going to the legion’s Poppy Trust Fund for Canadian veterans and their families.
Nujma Bond, the legion’s national spokesperson, said the organization sees this move as keeping up with modern purchasing habits.
“As the world around us evolves we have been looking at different ways to distribute poppies and to make it easier for people to access them,” she said in an interview.
“This is definitely a way to reach a wider number of Canadians of all ages. And certainly younger Canadians are much more active on the web, on social media in general, so we’re also engaging in that way.”
Al Plume, a member of a legion branch in Trenton, Ont., said the online store can also help with outreach to veterans who are far from home.
“For veterans that are overseas and are away, (or) can’t get to a store they can order them online, it’s Amazon.” Plume said.
Plume spent 35 years in the military with the Royal Engineers, and retired eight years ago. He said making sure veterans are looked after is his passion.
“I’ve seen the struggles that our veterans have had with Veterans Affairs … and that’s why I got involved, with making sure that the people get to them and help the veterans with their paperwork.”
But the message about the Amazon storefront didn’t appear to reach all of the legion’s locations, with volunteers at Branch 179 on Vancouver’s Commercial Drive saying they hadn’t heard about the online push.
Holly Paddon, the branch’s poppy campaign co-ordinator and bartender, said the Amazon partnership never came up in meetings with other legion volunteers and officials.
“I work at the legion, I work with the Vancouver poppy office and I go to the meetings for the Vancouver poppy campaign — which includes all the legions in Vancouver — and not once has this been mentioned,” she said.
Paddon said the initiative is a great idea, but she would like to have known more about it.
The legion also sells a larger collection of items at poppystore.ca.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2024.
