Feds relax wage subsidy eligibility requirements

“We need businesses to survive and workers to get paid”

“We need businesses to survive and workers to get paid,” Trudeau said, adding the economy will come “roaring back” after the pandemic, but cautioned that “job numbers for March will be out tomorrow – it’s going to be a hard day for the country.”

The government will be covering all wages usually paid by employers under the Canada Summer Jobs program in an effort to get young people working, Trudeau said, and that the government would be doing more.

The prime minister also announced that Canada received 500,000 masks from 3M overnight.

The federal government will have more discussions on modelling and projections in the coming days, said Trudeau outside Rideau Cottage. He also said Canadians needs to continue to do what they’ve been doing — staying home.

“I know the past weeks haven’t been easy but we’re going to get through this together. Please stay home as much as possible,” he said. “In order to avoid spiking cases … we need to keep very, very strong in the measures we have now.”

While some provinces, including Alberta, have released modelling in recent days, Trudeau did not give any timeline on the release of the federal modelling.

He also said that as things start to get back to normal, they will not be back to normal.

He expects the country will be opened up in a slowly and with caution to prevent “severe spikes.” Restrictions will be in place for “many more weeks,” Trudeau added.

He again praised those who are following the recommendations of public health officials, and implored those who are flouting the guidelines to follow them and stop putting others at risk.

On questions about the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, Trudeau said the “CERB was a way of replacing income to the largest number of people who suddenly found themselves without a paycheque.”

He added they government aims to shorten the timeline for getting aid out to businesses, which currently sits at three-to-six weeks.

Trudeau said the government will be calling on the opposition to bring back the House of Commons, and some sort of virtual parliament is being considered. He added he will continue to work from home in general but will go to Parliament Hill at times for strategic meetings.

As of Wednesday morning, Canada has 18,433 confirmed cases, 14 probable cases and 401 deaths. There have been 359,269 Canadians tested.

In Alberta there are 1373 cases and 26 deaths. A total of 65,265 Albertans have been tested.

by Chris Brown

Feds relax wage subsidy eligibility requirements

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