Pandemic response financial measures bill passes
Simcoe-Grey MP Terry Dowdall made a last minute trip to Ottawa Tuesday, just in case he was need to vote on the bill that puts in place $82 billion financial aid for those impacted by the pandemic.
About 30 members of parliament were called to vote on the amended measures put forward by the government early Wednesday morning after a debate went through the night.
Dowdall said the parties struck a deal so that a limited number of members would have to appear, to avoid spreading the COVID-19 virus amongst themselves. In the end Dowdall wasn’t called upon but he was there to see the historic bill pass on Wednesday morning.
He said everyone was acting in good faith to get the bailout approved but the Conservatives had a duty to push back on some of the spending powers without review and oversight.
“I’m glad the parties worked together,” said Dowdall. “It’s a big hurdle, which I hope is a small sigh of relief for Canadians.”
There will be some support for individuals coming through by April 6, but details of how exactly people can access the funds for businesses are still forthcoming.
“I have had so many phone calls in the last couple of days, many from Clearview, many from Creemore, whether it’s individuals or businesses that are having a tough time and we have to make sure we get this bail out money as soon as we can to those individuals,” said Dowdall. “We actually agree with the government that we need to be fluid, to look at all options, but at the same time we want to keep our democracy and that any changes would be debated with the House to see exactly how we’re doing because frankly, the more ideas, the better chance of coming up with a better solution.”
News release
March 25, 2020 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Finance Canada
The Government of Canada is taking strong, immediate and effective action to protect Canadians and the economy from the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic. No Canadian should have to choose between protecting their health, putting food on the table, paying for their medication or caring for a family member.
To support workers and help businesses keep their employees, the government has proposed legislation to establish the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). This taxable benefit would provide $2,000 a month for up to four months for workers who lose their income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CERB would be a simpler and more accessible combination of the previously announced Emergency Care Benefit and Emergency Support Benefit.
The CERB would cover Canadians who have lost their job, are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19, as well as working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children who are sick or at home because of school and daycare closures. The CERB would apply to wage earners, as well as contract workers and self-employed individuals who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI).
Additionally, workers who are still employed, but are not receiving income because of disruptions to their work situation due to COVID-19, would also qualify for the CERB. This would help businesses keep their employees as they navigate these difficult times, while ensuring they preserve the ability to quickly resume operations as soon as it becomes possible.
The EI system was not designed to process the unprecedented high volume of applications received in the past week. Given this situation, all Canadians who have ceased working due to COVID-19, whether they are EI-eligible or not, would be able to receive the CERB to ensure they have timely access to the income support they need.
Canadians who are already receiving EI regular and sickness benefits as of today would continue to receive their benefits and should not apply to the CERB. If their EI benefits end before October 3, 2020, they could apply for the CERB once their EI benefits cease, if they are unable to return to work due to COVID-19. Canadians who have already applied for EI and whose application has not yet been processed would not need to reapply. Canadians who are eligible for EI regular and sickness benefits would still be able to access their normal EI benefits, if still unemployed, after the 16-week period covered by the CERB.
The government is working to get money into the pockets of Canadians as quickly as possible. The portal for accessing the CERB would be available in early April. EI eligible Canadians who have lost their job can continue to apply for EI here, as can Canadians applying for other EI benefits.
Canadians would begin to receive their CERB payments within 10 days of application. The CERB would be paid every four weeks and be available from March 15, 2020 until October 3, 2020.
This benefit would be one part of the government’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, to support Canadian workers and businesses and help stabilize the economy by helping Canadians pay for essentials like housing and groceries, and helping businesses pay their employees and bills during this unprecedented time of global uncertainty.
