By Chris Brown

Update from the PM

PM: Deal on boosting pay of essential workers being finalized

May 7, 2020 | 9:28 AM

The federal government and the provinces are finalizing a deal to boost the pay of essential workers.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the top up is “for Canadians who are being called to go to work every day, for Canadians who are providing us with essential services so we can continue to keep our families safe and healthy.”

Trudeau added Canadians are relying on these workers now more than ever and will be there to support them.

“The bottom line is this: If you’re risking your health to keep this country moving and you’re making minimum wage, you deserve a raise,” he said outside Rideau Cottage.

The provinces and territories will decide the workers who will receive the premium, said Trudeau in response to a question about non-health care essential workers.

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He called the plan a “truly collaborative effort” between all governments.

The federal funds in the program could reach up to $4 billion, which will cover up to three-quarters of the extra pay.

That more than 60 per cent of Canada’s some 4,200 deaths are in long-term care facilities prompted Trudeau weeks ago to offer federal assistance to boost wages.

He proposed a pay boost for personal support workers and other front-line health workers in long-term care facilities who earn less than $2,500 per month.

There are about 1,500 Canadian Armed Forces members deployed to long-term care centres in Ontario and Quebec to assist with the pandemic. Close to 1,200 are in Canada’s remote communities to assist them with the fight against COVID-19.

Trudeau began his daily address speaking of the heartbreak and pride he saw at Wednesday’s ceremony among the families and friends of the six Canadian Armed Forces members killed last week in the helicopter crash near Greece.

As of Thursday morning, Canada had 63,895 confirmed cases, zero probable cases and 4,280 deaths. There have been 1,001,958 Canadians tested.

In Alberta, there are 5,963 cases and 112 deaths. A total of 160,185 Albertans have been tested.