Sunday, April 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Federal COVID-19 aid gets last-minute reshape

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Oct, 2021 11:49 AM
  • Federal COVID-19 aid gets last-minute reshape

OTTAWA - Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the federal government is reshaping a suite of pandemic aid programs for businesses and individuals starting this weekend.

The federal wage and rent subsidies are scheduled to expire on Saturday, along with benefits for some unemployed workers.

Freeland says the measures were always designed to be temporary to get through the crisis.

She says the country is now in a very different phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting the labour market has recovered all the jobs lost last year and vaccination rates are rising.

In place of the broad wage and rent subsidies for businesses will be more direct subsidies to still-hurting sectors of the economy.

Mark Agnew, senior vice-president policy with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, says the retooled government support programs would allow businesses that continue to be impacted by public health restrictions to survive until they can recover.

"This is the fair thing to do for businesses that are playing their part to protect public health," he said in a statement.

Freeland also says income support measures will only go to workers off the job because of a lockdown. She says the new benefit would pay $300 a week to workers subject to a lockdown, including those who are ineligible for employment insurance.

The rate of pay is equal to what the Canada Recovery Benefit has provided to unemployed workers, over two million of whom have used the benefit over the last year and receiving $27 billion in aid.

Freeland says there is still a need for the benefits to help parents stay home to care for a sick child, or to stay home themselves if sick, which is why they will be extended into the new year and individuals will be given two more weeks of eligibility.

She also says the government estimates the cost of the new measures at over $7 billion.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

BoC chief warns of ongoing supply-chain pressures

BoC chief warns of ongoing supply-chain pressures
Annual inflation rates have run above the Bank of Canada's comfort zone since April, reaching 4.1 per cent in August. The central bank expects readings higher than its target of two-per-cent through the rest of the year.

BoC chief warns of ongoing supply-chain pressures

580 COVID19 cases and new rules for northern B.C. as COVID spreads

580 COVID19 cases and new rules for northern B.C. as COVID spreads
British Columbia's provincial health officer has announced new restrictions for the northern health region in an attempt to stop the rapid spread of COVID-19 through those who are unvaccinated.  Dr. Bonnie Henry announced the further restrictions will continue until Nov. 19.

580 COVID19 cases and new rules for northern B.C. as COVID spreads

Freeland non-committal on border COVID testing

Freeland non-committal on border COVID testing
Freeland says Canada needs to remain vigilant against the virus — and that includes making sure that people who cross the Canada-U.S. border are not infected. When fully vaccinated Canadian visitors are allowed to cross the land border into the U.S. next month, they won't be required to show negative test results.

Freeland non-committal on border COVID testing

B.C.'s youth in care to receive iPhones: ministry

B.C.'s youth in care to receive iPhones: ministry
Minister Mitzi Dean says the program is the first project of its kind in the province and, in collaboration with Telus, will distribute iPhones equipped with voice, five gigabytes of data, a phone case, screen protector and charger, all paid for by government.

B.C.'s youth in care to receive iPhones: ministry

No train link to wildfire in Lytton, B.C.: TSB

No train link to wildfire in Lytton, B.C.: TSB
The board's report says investigators confirmed with both CN and CP railways that there had been no rail grinding activities on the track and found no signs of hot bearings, burned brakes or other potential fire-creating causes in a train that went through the c

No train link to wildfire in Lytton, B.C.: TSB

VPD investigates the city’s 15th fatal collision of the year

VPD investigates the city’s 15th fatal collision of the year
The collision, involving a motorcycle and a white Mazda 3, happened around 6:45 p.m. near Rupert Street and East 41st Avenue. The motorcycle rider, a Vancouver resident, died on scene despite efforts by paramedics to save his life.

VPD investigates the city’s 15th fatal collision of the year