Morneau is up in #SenCA addressing the new legislation - it's been tweaked substantially since the aid package was first announced last week.
The two support benefits have been collapsed into one called the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). This benefit would provide support for up to 16 weeks for workers who lose their income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 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 closures.
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 closures.
Workers who are still employed, but are not receiving income because of disruptions to their work situation due to COVID-19, would also qualify for the CERB.
Canadians who are already receiving EI regular and sickness benefits as of today would continue to receive their benefits and should not apply to the CERB.
The portal for accessing the CERB would be available in early April.
Who is a "worker" under CERB program? A worker is defined as a person who is at least 15 years of age, is a resident in Canada and who in 2019 (or in the 12 months before applying) had an income of at least $5,000 from (a) employment (b) self-employment (c) certain EI benefits.
That should answer many of your questions about who is eligible for this benefit: residents of Canada who earned at least $5,000 from employment or self-employment or some EI benefits in 2019 or the last 12 months.
PM is up. "This is only the beginning," Trudeau says of the aid package that passed the Commons this morning.
"As the situation evolves we are adjusting our efforts to help you better," Trudeau says. $2,000 a month for the next four months for workers who are not getting a paycheque. "If you've lost your job, were on a contract or self-employed this benefit will be there for you."
"If you're sick or quarantined or looking after someone sick or at home taking care of your kids - it's there for you," Trudeau says of the CERB. Application portal will launch "as quickly as possible," with money to flow about 10 days after applying.
"Help is on the way," Trudeau says, adding they are rapidly deploying people to take calls, process claims, and get people the support they need. "Since last Monday we've already processed 143,000 claims."
Trudeau says Canada is testing 10,000 people a day for COVID-19.
Trudeau says the government will announce support for Canadian media companies (a number of newspapers/outlets have laid people off in recent days). "We very much appreciate your work," he says in French.
Trudeau makes another plea for Canadians to stay home. "It's not hard to do what we're asking you to do - just stay home. If you must go keep a 2 m distance between you and others," PM says.
"We are absolutely looking at more direct support for businesses," Trudeau says. "We are working with business groups we are working with small businesses, hearing their concerns." He says they're looking at programs in Germany, Denmark and possible equivalents for Canada.
Trudeau says "We know people are anxious." Final paycheques are starting to come in now and people don't know when the next one will come. "The CERB is going to flow as a way of giving them $2,000 every month for the next 4 months so we can get through this."
"It is extremely important that everyone returning to Canada isolate for 14 days," PM says when asked about people lying about symptoms to get home on flights. "It is required for people to stay at home for 14 days."
Why not test for temperatures? Thermal screening? "We recognize that there are many concerns about passengers returning to Canada. We're asking people to immediately isolate." They're looking at other technologies to keep Canadians safe.
Trudeau says Ottawa will do what it can to make more medical equipment available. "There needs to better coordination between the provinces and the federal government," Trudeau says.
Prisoners? "The incarcerated population is at greater risk," Trudeau says. "We're looking at a broad range of measures ... to make sure we're going to keep them safe. We're not taking anything off the table in terms of the options to keep Canadians safe."
To recap: the new combined Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) passed the Commons early this morning. Many Canadians will have access to this - $2,000 a month for four months. The aid will flow by mid-April. The application portal will be open as "quickly as possible."
Also, Trudeau said the government is considering more support for businesses and he cited programs in Denmark, Germany as possible models to replicate here in Canada. Stay tuned for more details.
BREAKING — The Senate of Canada has passed Bill C-13 without amendment. The aid package has passed Parliament and now awaits Royal Assent.
NEW — Health Minister Patty Hajdu just told #SenCA that, as of midnight tonight, all returning travellers must go into self-isolation. It will be enforced through measures in the Quarantine Act (including criminal sanctions or fines).
There will be exceptions to this mandatory isolation for essential workers.
More accurate to describe this as "mandatory isolation" as opposed to "mandatory self-isolation," as self implies people have a choice - as of midnight tonight travellers will not have that choice and it will be enforced by law.
I have the transcript now: "Effective at midnight tonight, travellers returning to Canada with the exceptions of essential workers, will be subject to a mandatory 14-day isolation under the Quarantine Act," Hajdu said.
"This new measure will provide the clarity for those entering the country about the essential need to self-isolate. Individuals who exhibit symptoms upon arrival in Canada will be forbidden, also, from using public transit to travel to their places self isolation," Hajdu said.
