Hello Everyone,
The last few months have been tough for a lot of Canadian families. Fighting COVID-19 has always been a Team Canada effort and it continues to be one as we move into the recovery phase.
Yesterday, our government announced an agreement with the provinces and territories that will see over $19 billion invested in protecting the health of Canadians, getting people safely back to work, and preparing for a potential second wave.
- Our new federal funding will address seven priority areas:
- enhanced capacity for testing, contact tracing, and data management and information sharing to mitigate future outbreaks.
- investments in health care to respond to the pandemic, including support for Canadians experiencing challenges with substance use, mental health, or homelessness.
- support for vulnerable Canadians – including those in long-term care, home care, and palliative care – who are at risk of more severe cases of COVID-19.
- funding to secure a reliable source of personal protective equipment.
- support to ensure that safe and sufficient child care spaces are available to support parents’ gradual return to work.
- to support municipalities on the front lines of restarting the economy, including a dedicated stream of funding for public transit.
- a temporary income support program that will provide workers who do not have paid sick leave with access to 10 days of paid sick leave related to COVID-19.
- Our new federal investments for the safe restart of our economy are in addition to previous funding provided that includes:
- The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), which has helped more than 8 million Canadians pay their bills and put food on the table during the pandemic.
- The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), which has kept about 3 million Canadians on the payroll.
- $500 million to the provinces and territories for critical health care system needs and support for mitigation efforts, including access to testing, acquisition of equipment, and enhanced surveillance and monitoring.
- Support to implement the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses, which has helped over 29,000 small businesses lower rent by 75%.
- Up to $3 billion to help provinces and territories increase wages of low-income essential workers.
Together, as a country, we’re laying the groundwork for our economic recovery.
Stay safe.
Chandra
Chandra Arya
Member of Parliament/Député – Nepean
Working hard for you