Federal aid application open now, money could be delivered this week

To avoid overloading the system the government is staggering the days people can apply based on their month of birth. Monday is reserved for those born January- March, Tuesday for April-June birthdays, Wednesday for July-September birthdays and Thursday for October-December birthdays. Anyone can apply on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Applications can be made online or via phone at 1-800-959-2019 or 1-800-959-2041. The services are closed from 3-6 a.m. (Eastern time) for maintenance.

Trudeau also told Canadians that help will soon be available for workers who have had seen their hours reduced down to 10 hours or less. In addition, those who are working but are making less than they would with the benefit, such as long-term care workers or those working with seniors, will also be receiving help soon.

Trudeau also says that work is underway to get help to post-secondary students, who would normally be beginning to look for summer jobs now.

In response to questions about shipments of personal protective equipment being blocked by the United States, Trudeau would only say conversations are ongoing and “we expect those shipments to be delivered.”

However, speaking to Global News, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Monday morning that a shipment of three million medical masks from coming into the province on Sunday was blocked at the border on the way to Canada.

“We had three million masks stopped at the border this weekend coming up to Canada. That’s unacceptable. Absolutely unacceptable that they’re doing this,” Ford said in an interview with Global News.

“Hopefully we’re going to work through it and get an exemption for Canada.”

As a result, Ford said the province now expects to run out of masks and other personal protective equipment for healthcare workers next week.

Trudeau, who went into self-isolation after his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau tested positive for COVID-19, is nearing the end of his self-isolation time. But he says he will continue to work form home as much as possible.

“This is what we are asking everyone to do,” says Trudeau, adding Canadians should expect to continue staying at home for several weeks and possibly several months.

“We must essentially stop the economy in order to weather through this crisis,” says the PM, adding that will allow for an easier economic recovery following the health-care crisis.

Trudeau says parliament is expected to reconvene in a reduced state in the coming days and that he wants to look at ways of holding a virtual parliament.

Speaking in front of a hockey stick on the porch of Rideau Cottage, Trudeau began his address by marking the two-year anniversary of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash. He said that showed that Canadians can get through even the toughest times.

As of Monday morning, Canada has 15,806 confirmed cases, 16 probable cases and 293 deaths. There have been 334,849 Canadians tested.

In Alberta there are 1,250 cases and 23 deaths. A total of 57,097 Albertans have been tested.

by Chris Brown

Federal aid application open now, money could be delivered this week

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