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Jun 16, 2020 3:35 PM -

$500-a-week COVID-19 benefit to be extended 8 weeks: Trudeau

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is seen during a news conference at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government's signature benefit for people whose jobs have vanished amid the COVID-19 pandemic will be extended by eight weeks.

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit pays up to $500 a week and was slated to last 16 weeks starting in mid-March, meaning that people who signed up for it immediately would soon run out.

Trudeau says the economy is recovering from the mass closures ordered to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus but there's a long way to go.

Extending the CERB has been a demand from the New Democrats in exchange for the party's support for the minority Liberals in an upcoming confidence vote.

An extension will add to the cost of the benefit, which has already paid out $43.51 billion as of June 4 and carries a budget of $60 billion.

Trudeau didn't provide a figure today, but says the government's hope is that fewer people will need the CERB as restrictions ease and businesses reopen.

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