PM announces more money for community support organizations

The federal government has announced a new emergency community support fund that will aid the homeless, seniors and people with disabilities.

A portion of the $350 million fund will go to local community organizations and non-profit groups and some will go to national groups like the United Way so the money can get to the vulnerable populations as quickly as possible.

“The total number of people who need help to get through this difficult period has gone up,” said the prime minister during his daily address outside Rideau Cottage.

Trudeau also said the government is launching a calculator on the Canada Revenue Agency website that companies can use to calculate what the forthcoming wage subsidy will cover. He said companies can begin applying on April 27. The maximum benefit is $847 per employee per week.

Trudeau told reporters that they are working to get supports to everyone “as quickly as possible.” He said Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy applications will open on April 27 and will be paid retroactive to March 15. Trudeau said it would be several days after that money will get to businesses.

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He said the government is working with businesses to their people on the payroll so the can not only “retain a job but have a job to get back to as soon as the economy picks up again.”

On outbreaks of COVID-19 at beef plants in Brooks and High River, Trudeau said the government has been told priority will be ensuring the Canadian supply before the companies move to exporting.

“We are not at this point anticipating shortages of beef but prices might go up and we will of course be monitoring that very, very closely,” he said.

Trudeau expanded on comments about potential gun legislation made yesterday, saying the government was on the verge of introducing legislation on banning assault-style weapons. He expects that will be one of the first orders of business when parliament returns to full sittings.

The prime minister said there is reason for optimism and the number of new cases being seen each day is getting smaller.

We need to “continue to do the right thing as a country,” he said, again noting that loosening restrictions too early could result in a return spike of COVID-19 cases.

As of Tuesday morning, Canada had 37,374 confirmed cases, eight probable cases and 1,728 deaths. There have been 565,931 Canadians tested.

In Alberta, there are 2,908 cases and 59 deaths. A total of 100,898 Albertans have been tested.