New funds for COVID-19 community programs coming, wage subsidy launching April 27: PM
OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is setting up a $350 million Emergency Community Support Fund to help charities and non-profits keep up their work assisting Canada’s most vulnerable through the COVID-19 pandemic. And, as of Tuesday companies who have been eyeing the 75 per cent wage subsidy for employees will be able to get an estimate of how much money they’ll be able to claim once the application portal opens next
Monday. Speaking to the supplementary supports for community programs, Trudeau said that due to a drop in donations and because organizations have had to change the way they deliver services in accordance with public health measures, it has left groups like seniors and people with disabilities without the programs they rely on. The new funding will go to small front-line organizations, as well as larger national groups, “that can get funds to local organizations and vulnerable people quickly,” Trudeau said.
The government says this funding will help with increasing volunteer home deliveries of groceries and medications; allowing more help-lines to provide information and support; providing transportation services to appointments; and beefing up virtual versions of social gatherings.
The federal government had already put in place some aid measures, such as increasing funding to food banks and homeless shelters, as well as other community outreach programs, but advocacy groups have continued to say more is needed, with some in the charitable sector calling for dollar-for-dollar matching programs.
Charity advocacy group Imagine Canada has forecast that charities will lose between $9.5 billion and $15.7 billion in revenue and be forced to reduce staff by between 117,000 and 195,000 this year.
The federal government had already put in place some aid measures, such as increasing funding to food banks and homeless shelters, as well as other community outreach programs, but advocacy groups have continued to say more is needed, with some in the charitable sector calling for dollar-for-dollar matching programs.
Charity advocacy group Imagine Canada has forecast that charities will lose between $9.5 billion and $15.7 billion in revenue and be forced to reduce staff by between 117,000 and 195,000 this year.
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Ahmed Hussen said that more Canadians than usual are relying on these social support systems and offered his thanks to those still showing up to help out. “This money will help groups like those in Eastern Ontario, but are looking to provide meals to those who cannot leave their homes... It would also help organizations such as the Atlantic Compassion Fund or the Vancouver Foundation which is providing support to women who are fleeing domestic violence,” Hussen said. of Families, Children and Social Development Ahmed Hussen said that more Canadians than usual are relying on these social support systems and offered his thanks to those still showing up to help out.
“This money will help groups like those in Eastern Ontario, but are looking to provide meals to those who cannot leave their homes... It would also help organizations such as the Atlantic Compassion Fund or the Vancouver Foundation which is providing support to women who are fleeing domestic violence,” Hussen said.