Trudeau unveils $82B COVID-19 emergency response package for Canadians, businesses
PM says 'extraordinary' measures include tax deferrals, wage subsidies for small businesses
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a massive $82-billion aid package to help Canadians and businesses cope with the global COVID-19 pandemic, including income supports, wage subsidies and tax deferrals.
The package includes $27 billion in direct supports and another $55 billion to help business liquidity through tax deferrals.
Combined, the package represents more than three per cent of Canada's GDP. Trudeau said the deep spending and delayed federal revenue will not drive the country into recession, insisting "prudent" decisions made over the last five years have put Canada on a strong economic footing to weather the crisis.
"We will be able to make sure our economy gets back up to speed very quickly," he said.
Parliament could be recalled as early as next week to pass legislation to bring in the fiscal measures.
The supports aim to help Canadians pay for rent and groceries, to help businesses continue to meet payroll and pay bills, and to stabilize the economy. Supports could start flowing in weeks, Trudeau said.
"No matter who you are or what you do, this is a time where you should be focused on your health, and that of your neighbours, not whether you're going to lose your job, not whether you're going to run out of money for things like groceries and medication," he said.
The emergency aid plan includes:
- A temporary boost to Canada Child Benefit payments, delivering about $2 billion in extra support.
- A new Emergency Care Benefit of up to $900 biweekly, up to 15 weeks, to provide income support to workers, including the self-employed, who have to stay home and don't qualify for paid sick leave or employment insurance. The measure could disburse up to $10 billion.
- A new Emergency Support Benefit to provide up to $5 billion in support to workers who are not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment.
- A six-month, interest-free reprieve on student loan payments.
- Doubling the homeless care program.
- Extending the tax filing deadline to June 1.
- Allowing taxpayers to defer until after Aug. 31 tax payments that are due after today and before September.
- $305 million for a new Indigenous Community Support Fund to address immediate needs in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation communities.
Other measures include a GST credit for low-income Canadians and special support for the homeless and shelters helping people escaping gender-based violence.
Trudeau said there is a "real" desire among opposition political parties to help Canadians, and he is confident that the measures can pass quickly in Parliament.
House leaders from all parties held a conference call today. Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez said his counterparts from the other parties expressed a desire to work collaboratively and in a responsible way to pass legislation to help Canadians as quickly as possible.
Watch: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the economy will recover
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said his party will cooperate with the government because it supports measures that put money directly into the hands of Canadians. He said Conservatives would press the government to make sure that nobody who needs support falls through the cracks.
"We believe that in this time frame, when people are going through hardship in real time, that Parliament must react very quickly," Scheer told Power & Politics host Vassy Kapelos.
However, Scheer criticized the finance minister for running budget deficits in previous years, which he said limits the government's fiscal capacity during an economic downturn.
New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh said he's encouraged by some of the Liberal proposals, but is concerned about the length of time it will take for people to access the funds.
"There's people that we know right now are not able to work, don't have the ability to earn any income, and have bills to pay," said Singh. "People need help right away."
Singh said New Democrats are willing to fast-track any legislation that will ensure money flows to people who need it most.
Watch: Scheer reacts to the federal government's COVID-19 economic aid package
Virus will 'be around for a while'
The number of confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada has risen above 700, with nine deaths — seven in B.C, one in Ontario and one in Quebec.
Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said today the country has seen a "sharp rise" in the number of cases and that indicates community spread.
She said Canadians should not invite others into their homes at this time and should work from home wherever possible.
Tam also warned that the virus will be around for a while and will not be eradicated from the world within months. People need to prepare for another "wave" that could come after an initial containment period, she said.
"You're going to have to prepare as though this virus is going to have more than one wave. I think that's the only prudent thing to do," she said.
Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, P.E.I., Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon and the Northwest Territories have all declared either a state of emergency or public health emergencies in order to unlock resources and government powers to ensure access to critical supplies.
Late Wednesday, Saskatchewan also declared a state of emergency.
Finance Minister Bill Morneau said the impact of the pandemic is "profound" but assured Canadians the government will do "whatever it takes" to help them through the crisis.
He described today's package as the "first phase" of planned measures.
"Usually, my job is to ensure we maintain our fiscal track, but right now as minister of finance, my only job is to make sure that Canadians can keep food in the fridge, that they can keep a roof over their heads, that they can afford the medicine that they need," he said.
"We've entered this challenge in a very strong fiscal position. Canada's balance sheet is the envy of the world and it means we have the fiscal firepower to respond. We're now prepared to use it."
More information about applying for EI sickness benefits is available on the government's website. Applications for the new benefits will open in April and will require Canadians to attest that they meet the eligibility requirements, and to re-attest every two weeks.
When the new benefits are available, Canadians can apply through the CRA My Account secure portal, through a My Service Canada Account or by calling a toll-free number the government plans to introduce, which will be equipped with an automated application process.
The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the global economy, sending stock prices diving and forcing businesses to shut their doors as governments institute lockdowns and other social distancing measures to slow its spread.
Today, Canada and the United States reached an unprecedented deal to close their shared border to non-essential travel, as both countries try to restrict the spread of the coronavirus.
Trudeau announced Monday the government was closing Canada's border to all travellers except for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and Americans, with exceptions for flight crew members, diplomats and some immediate family members of Canadians.
Canadian businesses of all sizes are feeling the pain from shutdowns, cancellations and public fear as the number of confirmed cases rises each day.
Trudeau said Tuesday that Parliament could be recalled to pass emergency economic measures.
The government is also considering invoking the Emergencies Act, which would grant it extraordinary powers to restrict movement and regulate and distribute critical supplies during the pandemic.
Today, Trudeau said invoking the act would be a "significant step, not one that we feel we need today, but not one that we are closing the door to in the future, if necessary."
Today's announcement is in addition to a $1 billion COVID-19 response package and supports for business already announced by the government.
Last week, Trudeau pledged $1 billion for increased public health measures. The package includes $275 million for additional research, such as vaccine development, and $200 million for federal medical supplies, supports for Indigenous communities and education efforts.
Another $500 million is going to support provincial and territorial governments.
The federal government has also waived the one-week waiting period for employment insurance claims related to COVID-19.
Morneau also announced last Friday the establishment of a $10 billion credit fund to lend money to businesses to help them continue operations.
With files from the CBC's Ryan Jones
