Parliament has officially passed the $82 billion financial aid package for Canadians through the House of Commons.
The bill is now before the Senate.
The emergency legislature allows for $27 billion in direct support and $55 billion in tax deferrals.
The adjusted Canada Emergency Response Benefit will supply $2,000 a month for the next 4 months to those who are out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government hopes to roll out an online portal on April 6th with a potential 10-day waiting period to follow.
Reports indicate that multiple sections of the initial bill have been removed or re-written, including a section that gave Prime Minister Trudeau and the Liberals unlimited spending and unlimited taxation sanctions. The bill now allows the government unlimited spending through June of this year.
As previously announced, additional programs within the aid package includes a temporary boost to Canadian Child Benefits; a new Emergency Support Benefit to support workers who don’t meet requirements for EI and are facing unemployment and a new Emergency Care Benefit to provide support to workers including the self-employed who have to stay home and don’t meet requirements for EI or sick leave.
The $305 million Indigenous Community Support Fund will address immediate needs in First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities.
The aid package also includes a six month, interest-free break on student loans, an extension of the tax filing deadline and a doubling of the homeless care program.
