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‘Help is on the way:’ PM unveils details of emergency COVID relief package

Mar 25, 2020 | 8:38 AM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says help is on the way for Canadians impacted by the Covid-19 crisis.

On Wednesday, Trudeau announced details of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit which is part of the 82 billion dollar relief package approved by the House of Commons overnight, which is now before the Senate.

He said it will provide up to $2,000 a month for four months for workers or self-employed people who are out of work due to the pandemic.

People who are sick or in quarantine will also get financial support.

The PM said people can apply through an online portal which will be set-up by April 6th, and the money will start to flow within ten days of applying.

Almost one million Canadians applied for Employment Insurance last week.

In other Covid-releated news, the federal government will start enforcing 14-day quarantines on travellers returning to Canada to try to limit the spread of the virus.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said “mandatory isolation” is needed to flatten the curve of the growth of the novel coronavirus in Canada.

The formal quarantines come with the potential for fines or even arrests for people violating them.

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