Feds pledge seniors’ assistance

FEDS PLEDGE ONE-TIME BENEFIT TO SENIORS IN COVID-19 AID

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised the possibility of extending emergency federal aid programs to ease the economic burden from COVID-19 as his government announced one-time payments for seniors that an advocacy group says falls short of helping their financial crunch.

The federal government is set to spend more than $146 billion, with $2.5 billion more in measures announced Tuesday to give seniors a onetime, tax-free top-up payment to help manage extra costs associated with COVID-19.

The Liberals have already indicated they will extend a $73-billion federal wage subsidy program beyond its early June end date, and have been pressured to extend the $35billion Canada Emergency Response Benefit that has so far paid out

$30.5 billion to 7.8 million people.

Trudeau said the government would remain flexible to provide Canadians the support they need, when they need it, but stopped short of saying which programs would be extended, or by how much.

He said the government was looking at short-term support needed with lockdowns in place to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“We want to get through this, we want to get through this quickly, but we know that we need to support people right now as we get through and that’s what this extra help for seniors will help with,”

Trudeau said.

The help for seniors will come in the form of a $300 payment to the more than six million people who receive old age security, and $200 more for the 2.2 million who also receive the guaranteed income supplement.

Seniors Minister Deb

Schulte said the Liberals arrived at the top-up figures by looking at extra dispensing fees with limits on prescriptions, additional travel costs for seniors avoiding public transit due to health concerns, and delivery fees for groceries.

“All small amounts, but it adds up,” she said.