Government of Canada Response and Actions

No one should have to worry about paying rent, buying groceries, or additional childcare because of COVID-19.
On March 25th 2020 the Parliament of Canada passed Bill C-13. This legislation will introduce Canada’s Economic Response Plan. This plan builds on the measures announced on March 18th and will provide immediate help to Canadians and businesses who are most in need as a result of COVID-19.
  • Introduce the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to provide $500 per week to Canadians who lose income due to COVID-19. This is a simpler more streamlined benefit comprised of both the care and support streams announced on March 18, 2020.
  • Providing an additional $300 per child in the May payment of the Canada Child Benefit.
  • A doubling of the annual Goods and Services Tax Credit through a special one-time payment in early May for 12 million low and modest income families.
  • 6-month interest-free moratorium on repayment of Canada Student Loans
  • Flexibility for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to defer CMHC-insured mortgage payments.
  • Reduce the minimum RRIF withdrawal to help protect seniors’ retirement savings.
  • Provide a temporary wage subsidy for three months to eligible small employers.
  • Help prevent shortages of patented drugs or medical devices
  • Support provinces and territories with a COVID-19 Response Fund including one-time funding of $500 million through the Canada Health Transfer.
  • Provide additional flexibility to support businesses as necessary through EDC, BDC, Farm Credit Canada and the Canada Account.
  • Increasing the protection of Canadians’ savings by providing the Minister of Finance with the flexibility to increase the CDIC’s deposit insurance limit.
  • Waiving the one-week wait period for Employment Insurance sickness benefits for those who are in quarantine or directed to self-isolate as well as other measures to make EI more flexible.
  • $157.5 million to those experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • $50 million to women's shelters and sexual assault centres.
  • $305 million for an Indigenous Communities Support Fund.
 
 
The Canada Revenue Agency will also defer individual tax filing deadlines to June 1st 2020, and defer all tax payments for businesses and individuals to the end of August 2020.
This plan builds on the $1 billion COVID-19 Response Fund, and over $500 billion in additional credit and liquidity support for people and businesses previously announced.
The Federal Government is stimulating the economy by activating the Business Credit Availability Program, making up to $10 billion available to businesses facing a cash crunch over the short term, so that they don't have to lay off employees.
The Government of Canada has established a COVID-19 Response Fund of more than $1 billion. This includes:
  • $27 million for coronavirus research and $275 million to help develop a vaccine
  • $500 million additional funding to the Provinces and Territories
  • $150 million to First Nations and Inuit communities
  • $50 million for surgical masks, face shields and isolation gowns
  • $50 million to the Public Health Agency of Canada for public education
  • $50 million to the World Health Organization and partners
Canada has one of the strongest and most resilient banking sectors in the world, and our Government is in a strong fiscal position.
  • The Bank of Canada will provide additional support for small-and medium-sized businesses, as well as adding additional liquidity to the market.
  • OSFI is lowering the Domestic Stability Buffer requirement, releasing more than $300 billion of additional lending capacity for financial institutions.
  • Canada’s banks have also made a commitment to support businesses and individuals through these difficult times in a responsible, fair and compassionate way.
The Government is coordinating with the financial sector to lower interest rates, support liquidity and stability of financial markets, and increase lending capacity. The Minister of Finance continues to encourage banks to show flexibility in helping their customers whose personal or business finances are affected by COVID-19. In response, banks in Canada have affirmed their commitment to working with customers to provide flexible solutions, on a case-by-case basis, for managing through hardships caused by recent developments.
The Government of Canada is also mobilizing science to fight COVID-19. We are providing support to quickly mobilize Canadian researchers and life sciences companies to support large-scale efforts towards countermeasures to combat COVID-19, including potential vaccines and treatments. The Government of Canada is providing $1.1 billion for a national medical and research strategy for research that hospitals and universities across the country are doing to develop vaccines and treatments for COVID-19.

 

The Government is also calling on Canadian Industries and Manufacturers to retool and scale up production of critical health and safety supplies and equipment, including personal protective equipment, sanitization products, diagnostic and testing products, and disease tracking technology. This includes a Letter of Intent with Spartan Bioscience in Ottawa West-Nepean to develop a portable device to test for COVID-19 that can produce results within 30 minutes. This could be used in airports, clinics, and border crossings by individuals with no medical experience. This is part of the Government's plan to mobilize industry.

 

Canadian Armed Forces

When Canadians call, the Canadian Armed Forces will be there. The Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Air Force & the Royal Canadian Navy have together up to 24,000 troops who will be able to help vulnerable communities, assist the provinces & territories & support efforts to slow the spread of #COVID19. We will be there.

The Canadian Armed Forces has a plan to support Canadians through #COVID19. We're ready to help slow the spread of the virus, support our most vulnerable & assist provinces & territories with logistics. As always, we also remain ready to respond to events like floods or forest fires.

Our Canadian Armed Forces will always be there to help Canadians. We will have up to 10 Regular Forces units across Canada to help with COVID-19. That's up to 500 troops per unit ready to assist communities through humanitarian support & the delivery of goods.

In addition to our Regular Force members, the Canadian Armed Forces are readying many Primary Reserve units throughout the country. These flexible teams can operate as local response forces to assist with humanitarian support, wellness checks and natural disaster response.

In the Canadian Armed Forces planning, particular attention was given to meet Indigenous communities’ needs & north & the Arctic's. That's why over 50 Canadian Ranger Patrols will be available to enhance our understanding of the needs of northern, remote & Indigenous communities.

In addition, our Royal Canadian Air Force has all necessary capabilities & personnel to support the whole-of-government response to COVID-19. A wide range of helicopters & transport aircraft will be made available if needed.

Our Royal Canadian Navy are preparing to be ready to respond on short-notice to coastal communities who might need a helping hand.

Our women & men in uniform always stand ready to help us at a moment's notice & in these unprecedented times, it's no different. They're prepared to assist us in the fight against against #COVID19 & any event we may face. To all of you & your families: thank you for your service.