Canadians are doing their part to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic by staying home and practicing physical distancing. But this means that many are left without regular sources of income.
The current federal emergency aid program, the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), is aimed at replacing income for some Canadians, while many essential workers and vulnerable Canadians are unable to access support.
As many as 1 in 3 Canadians are left behind by this program.
This list includes:
- students who have just finished their terms and were about to start summer jobs
- seniors who are retired
- workers who are concerned about their health and safety or those of their family members and need to stop working outside because of that
- people who hold multiple part-time jobs and have lost hours or earnings in one or more of them
- the very poorest Canadians, who earned less than $5000 in 2019 or the last 12 months
-
essential workers who have lost income and hours due to COVID-19, but still make more than $1000 a month
All Canadians are helping in the effort to beat COVID-19 - nobody should be left unable to pay their bills or afford necessities during this difficult time. That's why we're calling on the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance to issue a universal emergency response benefit of $2000 per adult and $250 per child per month. For those who don't need it - the money could be declined or clawed back on 2020 tax returns. This is the fastest, fairest, most efficient way to support Canadians in this unprecedented crisis.
It avoids delay, paperwork, bureaucracy, complicated applications and confusing criteria, and, most importantly, the despair and unfairness of so many needy Canadians being unsupported.
Add your voice and send an email today to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance today!
