COVID-19

FEDERAL SUPPORT:

Federal Parliament passed C-13, the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, to accomplish what is suggested in the bill’s title. Most impactful among the measures is a new Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which will provide $2,000 a month for up to 4 months to:

• workers who must stop working due to COVID-19 and do not have access to paid leave or other income support.

• 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 that are sick or need additional care because of school and daycare closures.

• 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.

• wage earners and self-employed individuals, including contract workers, who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance.

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​Canadians can make application through a secure web portal
set to launch in early April, with benefits received within 10 days
of application submission.

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Support for individuals and families:

• Increasing the Canada Child Benefit

• Special Goods and Services Tax credit payment

• Extra time to file income tax returns

• Mortgage support

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​Support for people facing unemployment:

• The new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

• Apply for Employment Insurance

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​Support for people who are sick, quarantined,
or in directed self-isolation:

• The new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

• Improved access to Employment Insurance sickness benefits

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​Support for people who are unable to work:

• The new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

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Support for people who need it most:

• A new Indigenous Community Support Fund

• Enhancing the Reaching Home initiative

• Support for women’s shelters and sexual assault centres

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​Support for seniors:

• Reduced minimum withdrawals for Registered Retirement Income Funds

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​Support for students and recent graduates:

• A moratorium on the repayment of Canada Student Loans

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ALBERTA SUPPORT PROGRAMS IN ADDITION TO THE FEDERAL SUPPORT ABOVE: