By Chris Brown

Update from the PM

PM: CERB payments could be extended

Jun 15, 2020 | 9:33 AM

As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on and Canadians begin to worry about hitting the limits of their CERB payments, the federal Liberals are opening the door to keeping those payments going a little longer.

“Right now, we’re working on a solution to extend the benefit for people who can’t return to work yet,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this morning, adding more details on the potential measure will be released soon.

The program was to run for 16 weeks, and many Canadians are approaching that limit.

The New Democrats say a plan to extend the CERB is a must for them to support the spending proposal due in the House of Commons on Wednesday. A vote on the spending plans, about $87 billion, is a confidence motion, meaning that in theory the opposition parties could bring down the government it.

The prime minister also announced applications are now open for the Surplus Food Rescue Program, something he calls a win-win.

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“This program will help get products that farmers and fishers can’t sell — whether that’s potato, poultry, seafood or otherwise — to communities that need it,” said Trudeau. “People across the country will benefit, including in remote northern communities.”

Trudeau said applications will open Friday on the expanded Canada Emergency Business Account program. The program offers up to $40,000 business loans, $10,000 of which could be forgiven if the rest paid back by the end of 2022.

The expanded eligibility includes farmers and those who rent chairs, such as hair salons, among others.

Trudeau also announced Canada is one of 13 founding members that helped launch a global partnership on artificial intelligence. Montreal will be home to one of two global hubs.

“Artificial intelligence has the potential to be an incredibly powerful force for good, but it must be used responsibly and ethically,” he said.

Canada has pioneered much of today’s AI tech, and it only makes sense a hub for the partnership would be here, said Trudeau.

Trudeau also said provinces are the ones making the rules on the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program and the government has been “impressing” on the provinces to move forward with eviction bans.

As of Monday morning, Canada had 98,787 confirmed cases and 8,146 deaths. There have been 60,272 recovered in Canada and 2,152,776 Canadians tested.

In Alberta, there are 7,433 cases and 150 deaths. A total of 297,108 Albertans have been tested. There are 422 active cases in Alberta.