Mona Fortier
Hon. Mona Fortier
Member of Parliament for Ottawa—Vanier
Newsletter, July 28th
MESSAGE FROM YOUR MP
For over 5 months, we have been facing the global COVID-19 pandemic. The economic scope and impact of this crisis is much deeper than what most of us have experienced. Over the past few days, our government and I have worked tirelessly to ensure that additional Covid-19 measures are in place, and most importantly, to make the wage subsidy more flexible and accessible to all workers and their employers.

Let me share with you a clip from the speech I delivered in the House of Commons on july 20th: Link



SUPPORTING CANADIAN WORKERS AND BUSINESSES

As we continue to work together to revitalize our economy safely, a significant number of businesses and many Canadian workers continue to face a number of challenges and unpredictability. To help them, our government is proposing changes to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). In this way, we will be able to support workers in their return to work and employers so that they can quickly rehire their employees. The main amendments that were adopted were as follows:

  • Extend the grant until December 19th,2020, and present details of a revamped program until November 21st 2020.

  • Extend eligibility to allow the grant to apply to employers who have experienced income losses of less than 30%.

  • Provide a gradually decreasing subsidy to employers whose incomes now exceed the level corresponding to a 30% decrease

  • Introduce a top-up subsidy at a maximum rate of 25% for employers who have been hardest hit by the pandemic.

  • Provide greater certainty to employers who have already made business decisions for the months of July and August by ensuring that their subsidy rate will not be lower than the rate they would have been entitled to under previous rules.



SAFE RESTART AGREEMENT 

In the present context, we always ensure that our country has the resources it needs to get the economy going. Our government announced an agreement with the provinces and territories that it will invest more than $19 billion to protect the health of Canadians, bring people back to work safely and prepare for a possible second wave.

Our security recovery framework for the next six months includes investments in priority areas, including:
 

  • Helping municipalities provide essential services by providing $ 2 billion in federal funding for operational costs

  • Increasing testing and contact tracing

  • Giving additional support for provincial and territorial health systems, including challenges related to mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness;

  • Getting more personal protective equipment for front-line health care workers and businesses.

  • supporting the most vulnerable, including seniors, in long-term care facilities.

  • Ensuring that safe child care is available so that parents can return to work;

  • Supporting workers who do not have sick leave;

SUPPORT FOR CANADIANS WITH DISABILITIES

We know that this pandemic has affected all Canadians in one way or another. That is why, among the measures that have been taken to support Canadians in these difficult times, we are also committed to supporting Canadians with disabilities; we are providing them with a one-time, tax-free payment of $600 to help them deal with the extra expenses during the pandemic.


In addition, our government intends to propose a legislation to increase the number of people eligible as well as expand the one-time payment.

Our Government is committed to listening to people with disabilities and working in partnership with them to protect their health, safety and dignity as we address the wide-ranging impacts of COVID-19.




ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had an unprecedented impact on the health and economic well-being of the world, resulting in a surge of global containment. In Canada, 115 000 cases have been reported since then, and several public health measures to address the spread of Covid-19 have been implemented.

The Government of Canada is working tirelessly to stabilize the economy, delivering the largest economic assistance program it has delivered in generations.

Despite the fact that the impact of Covid-19 on the economy as a whole in 2020 is expected to contribute to the largest and most sudden economic slowdown since the Great Depression, measures taken to flatten the curve in Canada are bearing fruit across the country. Through the economic action plan, the government has been able to provide support and ensure that Canadians have the help they need.

In addition, Canadian companies have also participated in a massive reorganization that Canada has not experienced since the Second World War.

The decisive and substantial assistance provided by the government has prevented further damage to the economy by replacing lost income and avoiding an even higher unemployment rate. Programs such as the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit have helped Canadians keep more of their money so they can pay for their housing, food and medicine, while helping businesses survive so that Canadians can get through this period together.

Learn more about: Link



SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES

It’s always my pleasure to support our local businesses. Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting Donna Chevrier, owner of Ola Cocina Taqueria, and get lunch at her incredible restaurant, which is part of our Ottawa-Vanier region. Supporting small businesses and locals businesses is important because it helps them achieve their goals.

Let us stand together in this time of pandemic, so that our community remains prosperous.

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