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As the American government is preparing to issue one-time maximum individual payments of $1,200 to the majority of its citizens, Canada is backing up the Brinks truck. Kind of. For some.
The Canadian government announced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), which will provide a lucrative flat benefit for workers who have been out of work for 14 consecutive days in any four-week period for reasons relating to COVID-19.
The Trudeau government is rolling out a 75 per cent wage subsidy to help employers keep workers on payroll through the crisis. Those who’ve already lost their income can turn to the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), which will provide $2,000 a month for up to four months. [via]
Totaling $8,000 per person.
This sounds like your typical case of Canadians being nice until you consider that the package only benefits those who have been terminated/laid off, are sick/quarantined/in self-isolation/taking care of someone with COVID-19, or are working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children due to illness or school/daycare closures
While Canadians who qualify won’t have to worry where their next paycheck is coming from until the four-month cycle expires on October 3, 2020, the plan as it stands leaves those who were previously unemployed and students about to graduate, for instance, out of luck.
Now let’s just let Quarantine Twitter fight about who’s program is more generous.
$2,000 a month for four months sounds nice. All you have to do is become infected by coronavirus to get it. Something to consider.