Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, outlined Canada’s government response to COVID-19 in March 2020, establishing a Covid-19 Response Fund of more than $1 billion. This approach “includes measures already underway to respond to the outbreak, as well as new investments to limit the spread of the virus in Canada” (Canada's News Wire , 2020).

 

In addition to the governments work to respond to the outbreak across the country, “the Government of Canada is proposing new investments to respond in Canada and around the world” (Canada's News Wire , 2020) including the following:

 

• $50 million has been provided to support the Public Health Agency of Canada’s COVID-19 communications and public education efforts in order to “help Canadians make informed decisions and take action to protect their health and their communities” (Canada's News Wire , 2020).

• $500 million has been given to provinces and territories’ critical health care system to cover needs and to support all necessary efforts. An example of this is supporting access to testing, obtaining needed equipment, etc. The government does not want financial considerations to “be an obstacle to hospitals and health systems making the necessary preparations” (Canada's News Wire , 2020).

• By waiving the one week waiting period on Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits, workers who are “in quarantine or who have been directed to self-isolate” (Canada's News Wire , 2020), that apply for EI will be paid the first week of their claim. Additional measures are being taken to support others who have been affected, including additional income support for those who cannot apply for EI.

• Enhancement have been introduced to “the Work-Sharing program to help support employers and their workers who are experiencing a downturn in business due to COVID-19” (Canada's News Wire , 2020). Work-Share is a program designed to help employees avoid layoffs during hard times for businesses, such as this. It will allow workers to stay employed and receiving income even if their hours are reduced. The eligible length has been doubled to 76 weeks and can be accessed as soon as possible.

• Increased testing at the National Microbiology Laboratory as well as an additional funding of $275 million to increase Canada’s research and development on “medical countermeasures, including antivirals, vaccine development and support for clinical trials” (Canada's News Wire , 2020) in attempt to put an end to this virus.  

• To fight the battle with a shortage of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) such as face masks and shields, the Government of Canada has provided the Public Health Agency of Canada with $50 million for purchases.

 

Through these measurements and many others to follow, the Government of Canada plans to continue to “protect the health and safety of all Canadians, ensure economic resilience, and contribute to the international response to COVID-19” (Canada's News Wire , 2020).

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"Our message to Canadians is clear: to every worker and business, in every province and territory, we have your back and we will get through this together."   - The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

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References: 

Canada's News Wire . (2020, March 11). Prime minister outlines canada's COVID-19 response. Cision.