The federal government is going to spend up to 82-billion-dollars to help support workers, businesses and the entire Canadian economy. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that includes 27-billion-dollars in direct support to workers and businesses to help them get through the COVID-19 economic crisis. There will be an emergency care benefit for anyone who falls ill, needs to self-isolate, or who must take care of a family member with COVID-19 who doesn’t qualify for employment insurance. Help is also on the way for anyone who loses their job and doesn’t qualify for E-I. There will be a wage subsidy for small-business owners to help keep staff on the payroll and an increase to the Canada Child Benefit to help parents cover the cost of child care or other impacts of having to stay at home. The border is also shutting down to all but essential traffic in both directions.
