As your association, MEIA is looking to provide its members and industry with helpful ways to address what are, and will be for a while, challenging times. At MEIA we thought it might be helpful to provide a compiled list with links of these economic response initiatives so that you might consider taking advantage of these programs for your business and workers. There may be further government support to come, we will do our best to keep you informed of any new announcements.
Call to Action: Canadian Manufacturers Needed to Help Combat COVID-19
If you are a Canadian manufacturer or business that can assist Canada in meeting the need for medical supplies, your help is needed.
Send a short summary of your offer to [email protected] if you:
- Manufacture in Canada and/or have ready access to necessary inputs through your supply chain.
- Have equipment or facilities that can be rapidly re-tooled to meet medical needs, including for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, masks and surgical gowns; sanitizers; wipes; ventilators; and other medical equipment and supplies.
- Have skilled workers who are able to respond and who could be available for work in the current circumstances.
The Plan to Mobilize Industry to fight COVID-19 directly supports businesses to rapidly scale up production or re-tool their manufacturing lines to develop products made in Canada that will help in the fight against COVID-19.
Follow the link for more information
Senate passes $82B coronavirus support package
The Canadian Senate has passed the $82-billion emergency corviruonas support package that the federal government fast-tracked through Parliament.
The bill will allow the government to spend up to $82 billion to help Canadians weather the COVID-19 crisis, including $27 billion in employment benefits, student loan deferrals, and funds for the health care system, homeless and women’s shelters, and Indigenous communities.
Another $55 billion comes in the form of deferred tax payments from businesses and individuals.
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
On March 25, the Government of Canada passed legislation to establish the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) combining the Emergency Care Benefit and the Emergency Support Benefit into one. This taxable benefit would provide $2,000 a month for up to four months for workers who lose their income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CERB would cover Canadians who have lost their job, are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19, as well as working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children who are sick or at home because of school and daycare closures. The CERB would apply to wage earners, as well as contract workers and self-employed individuals who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI).
Additionally, workers who are still employed, but are not receiving income because of disruptions to their work situation due to COVID-19, would also qualify for the CERB. This would help businesses keep their employees as they navigate these difficult times, while ensuring they preserve the ability to quickly resume operations as soon as it becomes possible.
The EI system was not designed to process the unprecedented high volume of applications received in the past week. Given this situation, all Canadians who have ceased working due to COVID-19, whether they are EI-eligible or not, would be able to receive the CERB to ensure they have timely access to the income support they need.
The portal for accessing the CERB will be available in early April.
Canadians would begin to receive their CERB payments within 10 days of application. The CERB would be paid every four weeks and be available from March 15, 2020 until October 3, 2020.For more information, see the Department of Finance website
Tools and Resources
Government of Manitoba Information for Workplaces and Employees
Government of Manitoba COVID-19 Updates
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan: Support for Canadians and Businesses
Government of Canada: Resources for Canadian Businesses