CanadaAug 20, 2020
Liberals to replace CERB with new benefit, simplified EI program at cost of $37B
The federal Liberals are rolling out a $37-billion income-support plan for workers whose earnings have crashed during the pandemic. The details released today outline what will happen to some four million workers receiving the $500 a week Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which is set to wind down starting next month. The CERB will be extended another four weeks, and a new benefit that pays $400 a week for up to 26 weeks will replace it for those ineligible for employment insurance. Anyone eligible for EI will get the same minimum for at least 26 weeks and will need to have worked 120 hours
CanadaAug 20, 2020
US officials install cable barrier along Canadian border
A cable barrier was installed along a section of the border between Washington state and Canada in an effort to curb ``dangerous criminal enterprises,'' according to a statement from the U.S. Border Patrol Wednesday.KING-TV reports the U.S.-Canada border has been closed to all non-essential travel since March to help limit the spread of the virus.The section of the border near Lynden, Wash., where the barrier is being constructed, has been used as a meeting place for families and friends during the coronavirus pandemic.The new barrier is designed to prevent vehicles either ``accidentally, or
BCAug 20, 2020
Increase in COVID testing centres and hours as case count increases in B.C.
Testing for COVID-19 is being stepped up as the number of new cases increases in British Columbia. Health Minister Adrian Dix and deputy provincial health officer Dr. Reka Gustafson say new testing centres and extended hours of service have been added in the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions. In a joint statement, they say the province can now complete 8,000 tests a day. Another 68 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in the province, bringing the active cases in the province to 798. A total of 4,745 cases have been diagnosed in B.C., while 3,749 people have recovered.
CanadaAug 19, 2020
Liberals hand over 5,000 pages of documents on WE decision
Thousands of pages of newly released documents back up the Trudeau government's contention that it was federal public servants who recommended a student service grant program be administered by WE Charity.They also suggest bureaucrats may have been nudged to look in that direction by their political masters. The five-thousand-plus pages of government documents were tabled with the finance committee almost two weeks ago.They had not been released to committee members because legal counsel was still vetting them to ensure there were no breaches of cabinet confidences or personal privacy.The doc
BCAug 19, 2020
83 more COVID-19 cases reported in B.C.
Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Réka Gustafson, B.C.’s deputy provincial health officer, have issued a joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia. "Today, we are announcing 83 new cases, for a total of 4,677 cases in British Columbia. "There are 775 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 3,704 people who tested positive have recovered. "Currently, six individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, three of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation. As well, 2,326
CanadaAug 18, 2020
Cabinet glass ceiling shattered as Chrystia Freeland named finance minister
Canada has its first ever female finance minister. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was sworn in this afternoon at Rideau Hall in a cabinet shuffle that also saw Dominic LeBlanc take over the intergovernmental affairs portfolio. Prime Minister Trudeau usually hugs his cabinet ministers at such ceremonies, instead he gave Freeland and LeBlanc a congratulatory elbow bump. Trudeau has asked Governor General Julie Payette to prorogue Parliament until September 23rd, two days after the House of Commons was initially to resume sitting.
CanadaAug 18, 2020
Finance Minister Bill Morneau resigns, plans to run for head of OECD
Bill Morneau is resigning as the federal minister of finance and a Liberal MP. Morneau says he is putting his name forward as a candidate to be the next secretary general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he accepted Morneau's resignation earlier Monday and that Canada would ``vigorously support'' his efforts to take on the new role. Morneau has been finance minister since 2015, when the Liberals returned to power. For several weeks, opposition parties have been calling for Morneau's resignation over allegations that he had a con
CanadaAug 17, 2020
CRA expects online services back Wednesday following cyberbreaches
The Canada Revenue Agency expects online services to be fully restored by Wednesday after hackers used thousands of stolen usernames and passwords to fraudulently obtain government services.About 5,600 CRA accounts were targeted in what the federal government describes as "credential stuffing" schemes, in which hackers used passwords and usernames from other websites to access Canadians' revenue agency accounts.Officials say the RCMP is investigating the breaches.The suspension of CRA's online services comes as many Canadians are using the revenue agency's website to access financial support
BCAug 15, 2020
Officials issue distancing reminder as B.C. announces 84 new COVID-19 cases
British Columbia's health minister and provincial health officer are urging people to follow physical distancing guidelines amid a rise in COVID-19 cases across the province. Adrian Dix and Dr. Bonnie Henry issued a joint statement on Friday urging residents to stick together and keep a safe distance from people they may not know or who aren't in their social bubble. They say the province has the ability to bend the pandemic curve back down, but only if everyone takes part in measures related to the fight against COVID-19. Dix and Henry warn that transmission of the virus has forced nightclub
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