Prime Minister Justin Trudeau started his speech on Friday morning from Ottawa about an extension to the Canada Wage Subsidy Program to help Canadians regain or keep employment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trudeau confirmed that the program will be extended by another three months to the end of August.
“Business owners: please take confidence from this announcement. You now have some runway to catch your breath as you get restarted,” suggested the prime minister. “Please bring back your employees.”
The 73-billion-dollar program was originally set to go from March 15 through June 6.
He also took the opportunity to provide good news for researchers and laboratories. Trudeau announced the federal government will be providing $450 million to help researchers and institutions who have been affected by the crisis.
“Science and research is our door to a brighter future, and that has never been clearer,” said Trudeau. “But because of the pandemic, many labs have closed or are at risk of imminently closing.”
He mentioned they will provide temporary support on wages for universities and affiliated research institutes affected by the pandemic through federal granting agencies.
While ending his speech, Trudeau encouraged Canadians who receive GST/HST cheques or the Canada child benefit to file their taxes in time for the new June 1 deadline. However he said benefits won’t automatically be cut off if people happen to miss that date.
“Your CCB and GST/HST benefits will continue until the end of September. But in order to keep getting them, you need to file your taxes as soon as you can so there is enough time for the paperwork to be processed and you will continue to receive those benefits beyond September.”
