| Canada – COVID-19 Update and Government Response Prime Minister Trudeau announced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to support workers and help businesses keep their employees. This taxable benefit would provide $2,000 a month for up to four months for workers who lose their income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is to have it up and running early April. CERB would cover Canadians who have lost their job, are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19, as well as working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children who are sick or at home because of school and daycare closures, wage earners, contract workers and self-employed individuals who would not otherwise be eligible for (EI). CERB would also cover workers who are still employed but are not receiving income because of disruptions to their work situation due to COVID-19. Trudeau also announced a support package for Canadian media to continue providing information to the public, more details to come. Government says they are assessing direct help for businesses. Canada is looking at models in Denmark and Germany and how they could implement those measures here. British Columbia COVID-19 Update The BC government will be providing up to $500 a month, for three months, for renters that can’t afford rent due to the COVID-19 crisis. This program will be delivered through BC Housing, more details to come in the following days. Premier Horgan has also announced a rent freeze for individuals – no word on rent for businesses at this time. He is asking banks and financial institutions to work with mortgage holders. In today’s update from Dr. Bonnie Henry, she said there are 42 new positive cases in BC, bringing the total to 659 cases in the province. The have caught up with the backlog of tests but Dr. Henry is not pleased with “any trajectory over 0”. She is encouraging gatherings that are only one or two people. |
