COVID-19 Update - April 05, 2020
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As I provide my third weekly update on the federal government's response to COVID-19, I would like to thank you for doing your part to help
flatten the curve.
You may be wanting to know when this will all be over. Me too. The fact is we don't know yet. In these uncertain times, try to remember what we do have control over: we can choose to take this seriously and listen to our public health officials.
Our actions today will determine how quickly and effectively we fight COVID-19.
Stay home unless absolutely necessary. Keep two meters apart from people when you do need to go out. Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds. If you have any symptoms or have returned from a trip overseas, stay home in self-isolation for 14 days. Together we'll get through this.
Some of you have contacted me to ask how those not following public health guidelines can be reported or discouraged. Over the past few days, the
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)
and
Toronto Police Service (TPS)
have ramped up enforcement. Failure to comply with an order made during a State of Emergency can result in
fines of up to $1,000.
If you see members of the public placing others at risk, such as gathering in groups of over 5 people, please
contact
OPP
or
TPS
non-emergency lines
. Please call
311
if you would like to report the use of closed City of Toronto properties. We are all in this together, so please use these resources only when you feel that people are putting others in danger.
I know this has been a very difficult time for many people. You're worried about rent, making sure your kids can continue their education, and keeping the lights on at your business. Please be assured that all levels of government are working together to get you the support you need as quickly as possible. We're here for you and are trying to support you in the best way possible.
I have outlined below some of the federal supports that have been announced earlier this week and provided more information about two that I know you are wanting to know more about: the
Canada Emergency Response Benefit
and the
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
. I have also included a list of some resources that you may find helpful as you look for the latest information on COVID-19 and the supports available to you.
If you ever have any questions or need support with federal matters, please do not hesitate to contact my office at
416-467-7275
or
rob.oliphant@parl.gc.ca.
If you missed my previous email newsletters, you can access them
here.
Rob
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On
Tuesday, April 7th at 7:00 pm,
I will be hosting a
Facebook Live
session to update you on the federal government’s response to COVID-19 and to answer your questions.
If you are not a Facebook user and would like to ask a question or need support with a federal matter, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Stay tuned for updates on my upcoming telephone town halls and others ways to connect.
I look forward to engaging with you on Tuesday!
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Whole-of-Government Response
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If you are a Canadian citizen outside Canada or know someone who is abroad, please
Register with Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
to stay connected with the Government of Canada and receive important travel updates. You can also
email sos@international.gc.ca
and call the
GAC emergency hotline at 613-996-8885
if you require assistance.
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We have also set up a loan program of up to $5,000 per person to assist Canadian travellers with the costs of returning home or temporarily covering their basic needs while they wait to come back to Canada, through the
Emergency Loan Program for Canadians Abroad
.
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Canada Emergency Response Benefit
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On March 25th, the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance announced the
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
. This will provide
$2,000 a month
for
up to 4 months
to Canadians who are not receiving a paycheque due to COVID-19. To make it simpler for people applying, we’ve combined our two measures previously announced (the Emergency Care Benefit and the Emergency Support Benefit).
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Eligibility
The CERB will be available to workers:
- Residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old;
- Who have stopped working because of COVID-19;
- Workers who are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19
- Working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children because of school and daycare closure,
- Self-employed individuals, including contract workers, who would otherwise not be eligible for EI
- Workers who still have their employment but are not being paid because there is currently not sufficient work and their employer has asked them not to come to work
- Who had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application; and
- Who are or expect to be without employment or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days in the initial four-week period.
- No medical certificate is required
If you have stopped working for reasons not related to COVID-19, you are not eligible for the CERB.
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How to Apply for the CERB
Starting April 6th, you can apply online through
CRA's My Account
or through a
My Service Canada Account,
but not both. You can also apply over the phone at
1-800-959-2019
.
When you apply for CRA's My Account, you will be sent a security code that will arrive by mail in 5-10 business days.
If you do not receive your security code by April 6, you will still be able to apply for CERB with the light version of My Account.
If you have already applied for EI, you do not need to re-apply.
For more information on how to apply, please click
here
.
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Here's a video to help you create your CRA My Account:
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CRA is working to provide the best service possible for all applicants and has set up
specific days for you to apply.
Please use the following guidelines:
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The
Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
was introduced to provide support to both employers and employees during this difficult time. The CEWS would apply at a rate of
75 per cent of the first $58,700
normally earned by employees – representing a benefit of up to
$847 per week
. The program would be in place for a
12-week period, from March 15 to June 6, 2020.
- Eligible employers who suffer a drop in gross revenues of at least 30 per cent in March, April or May, when compared to the same month in 2019, would be able to access the subsidy. The government is currently working to develop guidelines for businesses who may not be able to make a clear comparison. More details coming soon.
- Eligible employers would include employers of all sizes and across all sectors of the economy, with the exception of public sector entities.
- For non-profit organizations and registered charities similarly affected by a loss of revenue, the government will continue to work with the sector to ensure the definition of revenue is appropriate to their circumstances. The government is also considering additional support for non-profits and charities, particularly those involved in the front line response to COVID-19. Further details will be announced in the near term.
- An eligible employer’s entitlement to this wage subsidy will be based entirely on the salary or wages actually paid to employees. All employers would be expected to at least make best efforts to top up salaries to 100% of the maximum wages covered.
Eligible employers would be able to access the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy by applying through a
Canada Revenue Agency online portal
. Additional details on how to apply for the program will follow.
Those organizations that do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy may continue to qualify for the previously announced wage subsidy of 10 per cent of remuneration paid from March 18 to before June 20, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer.
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The Government of Canada has introduced several new measures to protect seniors' financial security:
- For low and modest income seniors, a supplementary payment under the GST Credit of close to $400 per adult, and $600 per couple has been introduced.
- We are reducing minimum withdrawals from Registered Retirement Income Funds by 25%, helping preserve RRIF assets during a volatile time.
- The Prime Minister also announced $9 million in funding, through the New Horizons for Seniors program, to United Way Canada. This funding will allow them to continue providing supports for seniors in our communities, who are at greater risk of poor health outcomes during this pandemic.
- Furthermore, we are allowing any new taxes owing, to be deferred until August 31 and extending deadline to file your income taxes to June 1. OAS and GIS payments will not be delayed because of the change of the filing deadline.
- Seniors are particularly vulnerable to the virus, and we are working with all levels of government to ensure they have the supports they need. For advice on how best to protect yourself, see this advice page from the Public Health Agency.
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Mobilizing Industry to Fight COVID-19
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Our government launched
Canada’s Plan to Mobilize Industry to Fight COVID-19
to ensure that we can quickly produce, here in Canada, the things we need to prevent the spread of the virus. Since its launch, we have spoken to
more than 2,900 Canadian companies
that have offered their expertise and capacity to meet the country’s need for personal protective equipment and critical health supplies.
Our government is investing
$2 billion
to
purchase protective personal equipment
, including things like more masks and face shields, gowns, ventilators, test kits and swabs, and hand sanitizer. This initiative will help companies that are already making things like masks, ventilators, and hand sanitizer
massively scale up production
. It will also provide support to those who want to
retool their manufacturing facilities
to contribute to this fight.
We have signed procurement contracts with
three Canadian companies
to make
medical supplies
such as ventilators, surgical masks, and test kits. We’ve also signed letters of intent with
five other companies
: Precision Biomonitoring, Fluid Energy Group, Irving Oil, Calko Group, and Stanfield’s.
Whether by purchasing materials, or working with Canadian businesses and manufacturers to develop them, we are mobilizing all of Canada to have the tools to protect our health care workers so they can safely care for us. All hands on deck!
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Supporting Food Banks and Local Food Organizations
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Food banks and local food organizations are vital institutions in our communities. They provide help to those most vulnerable to economic uncertainty.
Today, the Prime Minister announced an investment of
$100 million to improve access to food
for Canadians facing social, economic, and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government of Canada will provide funding to organizations like
Food Banks Canada, Salvation Army, Second Harvest, Community Food Centres Canada,
and
Breakfast Club of Canada
to meet the urgent food needs of Canadians.
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Download the new Canada COVID-19 Mobile App
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This week, we launched the
Canada COVID-19 mobile app
, which provides up-to-date information about the COVID-19 pandemic, including advice for preventing the spread of the virus, important contact numbers, and guidance for seeking medical help. This is a great resource to use to get information before contacting public health officials.
You can
download the app for free
on
Canada.ca
, the App Stores for Apple iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. The app is also available as a web application that can be accessed on any laptop or desktop computer browser.
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Contact 211 to Access 4000+ Community and Social Services
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If you're searching for community and social services,
call 211
or
text 21166
for support. You can also visit
211's website
for resources, such as government services, financial assistance, employment assistance, childcare, food, clothing and shelter.
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National COVID-19 Volunteer Recruitment Campaign
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The Government of Canada is working with provincial and territorial governments to respond to COVID-19. We are seeking volunteers
to help in the following areas:
- Case tracking and contact tracing;
- Case data collection and reporting; and,
- Health system surge capacity.
We are building an
inventory of volunteers
from which provincial/territorial governments can draw as needed. Visit the
recruitment page
to submit your name to
join Canada’s response to COVID-19
.
Applications close on
April 24, 2020
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Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
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Amidst the various challenges and difficulties people are facing due to COVID-19, I am very pleased to hear heartwarming stories of neighbours helping neighbours and Canadians stepping up to do their part. In
Leaside
,
Becky Allen White
is raising money to deliver
meals
to
health care workers at Sunnybrook Hospital
. Read more in
this Leaside Life article
.
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The
Bayview York Mills Chinese Community
recognized the importance of supporting
Sunnybrook Hospital
and its exceptional health services. In response, the group gathered to raise
$71,000
for Sunnybrook's
ECMO machines
, which are used to treat patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Speaking about this initiative, BYCC member,
Jerry Jin
said,
"All members of BYCC are immigrants and we all love this great country. So when the country and people need help, we will stand up."
Bravo!
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If you would also like to support Sunnybrook's critical work, please consider making a donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Sunnybrook is accepting equipment such as:
- N95 masks (unopened boxes)
- Other masks (duck-billed, face shield, surgical masks)
- Gloves
- Surgical gowns
- Protective medical goggles
- Equipment (e.g. ventilators)
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Community Sewing Face Masks Project
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You can adhere to public health guidelines and still
support our local businesses
. Consider ordering
takeout
or
delivery
, buying a
gift card
, or taking an
online class
with a local business.
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Connect with me on social media
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