Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced an $82-billion economic package, which includes a wage subsidy for small business owners to help keep staff on the payroll during the COVID-19 slowdown.
It includes $27 billion in direct support to Canadian workers and businesses. There will also be $55 billion to help Canadians meet liquidity needs through tax deferrals.
The plan also includes an emergency care benefit for people who fall ill, need to self-isolate, or have to take care of family member with COVID-19 but fail to qualify for employment insurance.
There will also be an emergency support benefit for people who lose their jobs and don’t qualify for EI, including self-employed workers who have to close up shop.
As well, any Canadians who learn they owe taxes will now have until August 2020 to pay them. The federal government is planning to boost the Canada Child Benefit to help parents cover the cost of child care or other impacts of having to at home.
Other measures include a GST credit for low-income Canadians, boosting support for shelters to help those escaping gender-based violence, and a six-month moratorium on student loan repayments.
Canada-US Border Closed
Just two days after the Federal Government announced a ban on all foreign residents from entering Canada, with exceptions for residents of the United States, the border between Canada and the United States is closed to non-essential travel.
It is as the two countries continue to fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump this morning which is when they came to the agreement, which means travellers will no longer be allowed to cross the border for recreation or tourism.
Trudeau says essential travel will continue, noting that truck drivers moving goods between the two countries will be exempt, noting it is critical to preserve the supply chains that bring both countries food, medicine, and other important products.
People who live and work on opposite sides of the border will also be exempt from this ban.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says nearly 200,000 people cross the Canada-US border every day.
“I welcome the news on the border measures announced today by the federal government,” said BC Premier John Horgan. “We need to limit non-essential travel over the U.S. border, while maintaining our supply chains, so people have access to essentials.”
“We will be conducting a full review of the of the federal package announced today, and we will work with our federal partners to advocate for higher benefits so people will be able to afford rent and essentials while staying home during this crisis.”
Horgan says his government is working on the details of a B.C. plan.
– With files from The Canadian Press