Dear Neighbour,

Today, the Federal government announced a package of supports for people in this crisis. While more details are needed to understand how it will work and in particular how constituents can start to access the various benefits, it does appear to address some of the income insecurity and small business supports that people have been asking for. I welcome support from the federal government and hope that the much-needed funds flow through to people swiftly. Please find a summary of the announcement below.

On the provincial side, the Ontario Legislature will reconvene tomorrow, Thursday, for a very short session to deal with two pieces of legislation:

1. Amendments to the Municipal Act and the City of Toronto Act to allow city councils and school boards to meet electronically, and to suspend municipal noise by-laws to allow heavy trucks to stock grocery stores and pharmacies overnight.
2. Amendments to the Employment Standards Act to provide job protection provisions for workers who need to miss work as a result of COVID-19 and ban the requirement of doctors notes for COVID-19. 

My caucus colleagues and I, of course, support the job protection provision, and the ban on required doctor’s notes and so we will vote in favour of the bills, and we will provide the consent needed to pass them in one day. But this alone falls well short of what is needed. As you already know, my colleagues and I have been pushing for leave from work to be paid, not unpaid, along with other measures. The government has not accepted these suggestions or amendments to the legislation—things we’ve long been calling for—but we won’t give up on getting people the help they need.

Ultimately, the measures being agreed to can only be seen as a small first step. The Ontario government must help tenants, families, small and medium-sized businesses, and community-based organizations and charities, who are all growing increasingly concerned—and rightfully so. It’s time for Ontario to step up and do its part by providing direct funding to protect families from missing meals or rent, protect the most vulnerable people and organizations that support them, and prevent small businesses from going under. 

In the face of a global health crisis, governments must act fast and be compassionate.

For reasons of social distancing, only a small number of MPPs will be allowed in the building for the debate. I volunteered to attend but was not selected. You can watch the debates live on the Legislative Channel 129 or live-streamed here.

Wash your hands. Stay home, if you can. Be kind. We are all in this together. 

Warmly,

Federal stimulus summary

• $27 billion in direct support to workers and businesses
• $55 billion for liquidity for businesses and households through tax deferrals
• Total $82 billion - 3% of Canada's GDP.

Worker support

• The payments from the Emergency Care Benefit will average about $450 a week, being paid bi-weekly, starting around April 1. 
  • The application will be online; no medical test to prove eligibility
  • 14 weeks of payments - that puts end to support by late June 2020
• Emergency COVID Self Benefit will act as a catch-all for anyone to whom the above does not apply  
  • Similar to the Emergency Care Benefit but details are not yet available
  • Will include self-employment and sole proprietorship businesses

Small businesses

• Wage subsidy grants to small businesses for three months equal to 10% of workers salaries.

Income taxes

• If you owe after you file your taxes, you have until August 2020 to make payment

Family support

• 12 million Canadians eligible:
• Parents getting top-up of Canada Child Benefit $300 per child 
• Low-income Canadians will receive increased GST credit for $400 for single adults; $600 for couples; $150 for every additional child

• 6-month student loan repayment deferral

Gender-based violence

• Boosting funding for shelters for those who cannot remain at home
• 200 million to shelters nation-wide for materials and equipment

First Nations and Metis

• "Indigenous Community Support fund" (no details yet)

Business sectors

• Farmers getting “Farm Credit Canada” boost; no details 
• Other business sectors receiving access to Export Development Canada; details to come in further days