18.59°C Vancouver

Nov 25, 2021 1:21 AM - The Canadian Press

Narrower aid package is because the economy no longer needs the same broad-based help it once did: Chrystia Freeland

Share On
narrower-aid-package-is-because-the-economy-no-longer-needs-the-same-broad-based-help-it-once-did-chrystia-freeland
The Trudeau Liberals have outlined their latest aid package for an economy recovering from COVID-19. (Photo - Chrystia Freeland/Twitter)

The Trudeau Liberals have outlined their latest aid package for an economy recovering from COVID-19.

They're proposing targeted support to severely affected businesses, locked-down workers, and extra weeks of benefits that expired just days ago.

The legislation introduced in the House of Commons today is one of four bills the government wants MPs to pass before the middle of December ahead of a scheduled winter break.

The Liberals are proposing to send $300 per week to workers who find themselves off the job because of a ``COVID-19-related public health lockdown in their region'' between now and spring of 2022.

Those payments would be retroactive to Oct. 24 when the Liberals let a pandemic-era benefit for the unemployed expire.

The Canada Recovery Benefit's sickness and caregiver benefits would each get revived after expiring this past weekend with two more weeks of eligibility until May 7th.

Wage and rent subsidies for businesses would be more generous andtargeted over that same period to still-hurting tourism, culture and hospitality sectors, as well as a long list of establishments like movie theatres, arcades, casinos and gyms.

All would need to prove a deep and prolonged revenue loss to qualify.

Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, praises the extended list of eligible companies but says the high bar for revenue losses would leave out too many small businesses.

Latest news

surreys-27-5-million-bear-creek-stadium-opens
CanadaJul 09, 2025

Surrey’s $27.5-million Bear Creek Stadium opens

The $27.5-million Bear Creek Stadium in Surrey has officially opened. It has a seating capacity of 2,200. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke said in a press release that once it receives Class 2 facility certification, Bear Creek Stadium will be able to host high-profile events such as the World Athletics Continental Tour and Challenger Series. The mayor said the stadium will attract other groups to host games there. “We’ve already had some people make inquiries,” she said. Locke said it will be a huge benefit to the city. Surrey will also have a 10,000-seat stadium, with construction expect
alberta-has-highest-measles-cases-per-capita-in-north-america-as-summer-travel-gets-underway
AlbertaJul 09, 2025

Alberta has highest measles cases per capita in North America as summer travel gets underway

Alberta has the most measles cases in North America on a per-capita basis, worrying experts who say summer events could push case counts even higher. The province's former chief medical officer of health Dr.Mark Joffe says that's twice the rate of confirmed cases in Ontario. Ontario has been deemed Canada's epicentre of the outbreak in absolute case numbers, reporting 1,910 confirmed infections since its outbreak began in October, but with a population three times the size as Alberta. Alberta reported yesterday that 1,230 people have been infected with the highly contagious disea
CanadaJul 09, 2025

One of two student pilots killed in Manitoba crash was from India: consulate office

One of two student pilots killed in a mid-air crash south of Steinbach, Man., has been identified as a man from India. The consulate general of India in Toronto, in a social media post, identifies the man as Sreehari Sukesh. The consulate office says it's in contact with the man's family, the pilot training school and local police. The crash happened Tuesday morning about 400 metres from a runway used by Harv's Air pilot school. Adam Penner, president of the company, has said the two pilots were in small single-engine Cessna planes and appeared to try to land at the same time.
fraud-awareness-campaign-highlights-how-to-spot-common-scams
BCJul 09, 2025

Fraud awareness campaign highlights how to spot common scams

Richmond RCMP has launched a new fraud awareness campaign to educate the public about investment scams, a growing threat that costs residents millions of dollars annually. At the center of the campaign is a newly released video that educates the public on how scammers operate and provides practical tips on how recognize their tactics to avoid falling victim. The video pulls from real examples, using engaging visuals and commentary from an officer on how to spot red flags. The video lists three common investment scam tactics: Scam Trick #1: They claim you’ll make big money with little or no r
coquitlam-rcmp-announce-charge-approval-for-weapon-related-offences
BCJul 09, 2025

Coquitlam RCMP announce charge approval for weapon related offences

Following a Coquitlam RCMP investigation into a 2022 stabbing incident, now 23-year-old Shane Aston Gero of Port Coquitlam, and a youth, also of Port Coquitlam have been criminally charged. The youth cannot be named as per the Youth Criminal Justice Act in order to protect their privacy. On June 4, 2022, shortly after 1:00 a.m., Coquitlam RCMP Frontline officers responded to a report of a stabbing near Central Elementary School, located at 2260 Central Avenue, Port Coquitlam. On June 25, 2025, charges of Aggravated Assault, Assault with a Weapon, and Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purp

Related News