COVID-19: Canada Responds
COVID-19: PM Trudeau Unveils Emergency Response Benefit – March 25, 2020
Speaking from his home in Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discusses the federal government's response to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. He announces that Ottawa is establishing the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). The taxable benefit will provide $2,000 dollars a month for the next 16 weeks for workers who lose their income as a result of COVID-19. This includes workers who have been laid off, those forced to self-isolate, and those who must stay at home to take care of children who cannot attend school or daycare. The CERB is available to wage earners, contract workers and self-employed individuals who are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI). The new benefit will streamline aid for Canadians and replaces two previously announced benefits.
