How much of Trudeau’s $82B financial aid package will you get?

Mar 18 2020, 11:29 pm

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced economic measures the government is taking to help Canadians during the coronavirus pandemic.

Trudeau announced an $82 billion aid package that he said represents 3% of the country’s GDP.

This includes a $27 billion fund that will be directly supporting businesses and individuals, as well as $55 million put forward in tax deferrals.

Here is a breakdown of all that’s covered under the new announcement:

Employment Insurance

The financial aid package will help Canadians without paid sick leave and those who are sick, quarantined, or caring for children/family members who may otherwise lose income. As a result, the government is waiving the one-week waiting period for individuals in imposed quarantine that claim EI sickness benefits, and is waiving the requirement to provide a medical certificate to access sickness benefits.

Emergency Care Benefit

The package will provide $900 bi-weekly, for up to 15 weeks, to the following groups:

  • Workers, including the self-employed, who are quarantined or sick with coronavirus but do not qualify for EI sickness benefits.
  • Workers, including the self-employed, who are taking care of a family member, such as an elderly parent, who is sick with coronavirus but do not qualify for EI sickness benefits.
  • Parents with children who require care or supervision due to school closures and are unable to earn employment income, regardless of whether or not they qualify for EI.

Long-Term Income Support for Workers

For Canadians who lose their jobs or face reduced hours as a result of the impacts of the pandemic, the government is:

  • Introducing an Emergency Support Benefit delivered through the Canada Revenue Agency to provide up to $5 billion in support to workers who are not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment.
  • Implementing the EI Work Sharing Program, which provides EI benefits to workers who agree to reduce their normal working hours as a result of developments beyond the control of their employers, by extending the eligibility of such agreements to 76 weeks, easing eligibility requirements and streamlining the application process.

GST Tax Credit for Low-Income Families

A one-time special payment by early May 2020 through the Goods and Services Tax credit (GSTC), close to $400 for single individuals and close to $600 for couples.

Child Care Benefit

The financial aid package proposes to increase the maximum annual Canada Child Benefit for the 2019-20 benefit year by $300 per child.

Vulnerable Communities 

  • $305 million distinctions-based Indigenous Community Support Fund.
  • Reducing required minimum withdrawals from Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) by 25% for 2020.
  • $157.5 million Reaching Home initiative to support people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic (e.g., purchasing beds and physical barriers for social distancing and securing accommodation to reduce overcrowding in shelters).
  • $50 million to women’s shelters and sexual assault centres.

Student Loan Moratorium

The government is placing a six-month interest-free moratorium on the repayment of Canada student loans. This puts a pause on the repayment of loans until September 30, 2020, with no accrual of interest.

Flexibility for Taxpayers

  • The tax return filing date for individuals is being deferred until June 1, 2020. It is important to note that the Canada Revenue Agency encourages individuals who expect to receive benefits under the GSTC or the Canada Child Benefit not to delay the filing of their return to ensure their entitlements for the 2020-21 benefit year are properly determined.
  • The Canada Revenue Agency will also allow all taxpayers to defer, until after August 31, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after today and before September 2020.

Canada’s large banks have also confirmed up to a six-month payment deferral for mortgages, and the opportunity for relief on other credit products.

Support for Businesses

Small-Business Subsidy

Eligible small employers may receive a temporary wage subsidy for a period of three months. The subsidy will be equal to 10% of remuneration paid during that period, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer.

Tax Flexibility

Canada Revenue Agency will allow all businesses to defer, until after August 31, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that become owing on or after today and before September 2020.

Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP)

This program will allow the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC) to provide more than $10 billion of additional support, largely targeted to small- and medium-sized businesses, and to coordinate on credit solutions for individual businesses, including in sectors such as oil and gas, air transportation and tourism. The near term credit available to farmers and the agri-food sector will also be increased through Farm Credit Canada.

More details on the measures implemented by the government, and how to start accessing them, can be found here.

Rumneek JohalRumneek Johal

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