Responding to critics who say many Canadians are falling through cracks in the emergency COVID-19 benefit plan, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today said more help is on the way for students, those working reduced hours due to the pandemic and struggling businesses. During his daily media briefing, Trudeau said 240,000 people already have applied successfully for the Canada emergency response benefit (CERB) — which opened to applications at 6 a.m. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government is looking at ways to extend COVID-19 emergency benefits to students and those working reduced hours due to the pandemic. That means someone who works even dramatically reduced hours each week does not qualify. Trudeau said Sunday the government is looking at ways to address that, including direct income supports.

Source: CBC News April 06, 2020 15:01 UTC