Trudeau pledges more help for businesses and students

The prime minister has announced more help for businesses and students impacted by Covid-19.

Justin Trudeau says the conditions for businesses to qualify for the 75 per cent wage subsidy will be relaxed from a 30 percent loss of revenue, to 15 per cent, for the month of March.

“We want to make these emergency measures as effective and inclusive as we can so we’re listening and making adjustments along the way,” said Trudeau at his daily address outside his home.

Charities and non-profits will be able to include, or not, government funding when calculating their lost revenue.

Under the program, the government will provide up to $847 a week for every employee.

The government will give Canada Summer Jobs employers a subsidy of up to 100 per cent to cover the cost of hiring students, and extend the time frame for job placements until the winter as some jobs will start later than usual.

As for his government’s back-to-work plan, whenever that takes place, Trudeau says Canada will do it in a “measured, graduated way” to allow for a return of economic activity while avoiding spikes in Covid cases.

However, he added the current public health measures will be in place for “many weeks to come.”

According to CBC News, Canada had 18,447 Covid-19 cases as of 8 a.m. this morning, with 421 deaths.