Feds plan to extend CERB for those unable to work due to pandemic
Posted June 15, 2020 12:09 pm.
Last Updated June 15, 2020 12:32 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday that his government is working on a plan to extend the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
The first wave of CERB recipients were set to see their $2,000-a-month benefit dry up in the next few weeks, but Trudeau said he understands many are not able to find jobs or return to work at this time.
“We’re working on a solution to extend the benefit for people who can’t return to work yet. We’ll have more details later this week,” Trudeau said at his daily update.
He also pleaded with employers to use the wage subsidy to bring more people back on the job.
The CERB extension seems to meet a key demand from the NDP in the lead-up to a confidence vote on Wednesday on a government supply bill.
The Liberals need the support of one of the opposition parties to survive the vote; however, the Conservatives have vowed not to support the government unless regular sittings of Parliament resume. The Bloc Quebecois has also been increasingly expressing frustrations with the Liberals.
If the Liberals lose the confidence vote, the government could topple and Canadians could be heading toward an election.
Trudeau said applications opened Monday for the food buyback program for farmers. The program buys surplus food from farmers and uses it to help people in need across the country.
