The outbreak of the coronavirus has resulted in a vast economic slowdown and numerous job losses.
As a result, the Government of Canada has instituted a number of supports for Canadians and I wanted to share that information with you.
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) application is now open. In the first day of the benefit’s inception, nearly a million applications were filed.
The CERB provides a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to four months to eligible workers who have lost their income due to COVID-19. The criteria is continuing to evolve and is becoming more accessible to provide supports to those who need it.
The Government of Canada has also released plans to support business.
This includes expanding the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). This program will provide a subsidy for eligible organizations.
We have seen this expansion to now include many of the organizations that reached out to me sharing that the initial criteria was too restrictive. We continue to pressure the government to open this to some of you who may still not be eligible.
There are also supports for business through the Canadian Emergency Business Account. This will provide a loan of up to $40,000 interest free, however we await final details on this.
All of these supports are evolving rapidly. So if you need guidance with any of the programs I have mentioned, would like to provide feedback about these programs, or have difficulty reaching a government agency or program, my staff and I are here to help.
To ensure that Canadians are financially protected from the COVID-19 outbreak, the Conservative Party of Canada is also calling on the government to:
Give small businesses back the GST they remitted to the government in the last year so that they have the cash to pay their employees until the wage subsidy arrives.
Speed up implementation of the Canada Emergency Business Accounts so that small businesses have access to up to $40,000 in interest-free loans and expend the type of institutions who can be eligible for these accounts.
Allow businesses to demonstrate revenue loss using other metrics such as loss of earnings, subscriptions, and orders.
Temporarily allow owner-operators to become wage-earning employees instead of dividend recipients so that they qualify for the wage subsidy.
In these difficult times, I would like to stress the importance of co-operation and unity. Canada’s Conservatives will continue to work in cooperation with the other parties to deliver the best supports to Canadians. I am working for you to ensure that your interests are heard in Ottawa.
To learn more about any of the programs I mentioned or what supports are available, you can visit www.canada.ca/coronavirus.
Finally, I would like to express gratitude to the first responders, medical professionals, and the workers who are providing essential services. Your efforts have been noted and I commend you for contributions.