Banff 
Justin Trudeau outlined Canada’s whole-of-government response to COVID-19, by establishing a more than $1 billion COVID-19 Response Fund, which includes already announced measures as well as new investments.
With Canada now having more than 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and WHO declaring COVID-19 a pandemic, the most reassuring measure for ordinary Canadians announced by Trudeau is that the mandatory one-week waiting period for Employment Insurance (EI) is waived. This means that those in self-isolation and quarantine can be paid for the first week of their claim. Trudeau also said that the Government is exploring We are exploring additional measures to support other affected Canadians, including income support for those who are not eligible for EI sickness benefits.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- $50 million to support the Public Health Agency of Canada’s COVID-19 communications and public education efforts.
- $500 million to provinces and territories for critical health care system needs and to support mitigation efforts as needed.
- Waiving the mandatory one-week waiting period for Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits for support workers in quarantine or who have been directed to self-isolate so they can be paid for the first week of their claim.
- $100 million for federal public health measures such as enhanced surveillance, increased testing at the National Microbiology Laboratory, and ongoing support for preparedness in First Nations and Inuit communities. This is in addition to an initial $50 million that was provided to support the immediate public health response.
- $275 million in additional funding building for coronavirus research in Canada on top of the recent $27 million announcement to fund coronavirus research in Canada.
- $50 million to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
- $50 million to support the efforts of the World Health Organization and other partners.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau outlines Canada’s #COVID19 response: https://t.co/kiKSwdXx4O
— CanadianPM (@CanadianPM) March 11, 2020
