Photo: CPAC
The federal government is looking to pass the critical business and wage subsidy legislation needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cabinet will be meeting this afternoon mostly on the phone but the Prime Minister will join in person. The government is hoping the house will be able to resume in order for the legislation to be passed.
Justin Trudeau said businesses need only show a decline in revenue of 15 percent for the month of March in order to be eligible for the wage subsidy program.
Businesses can also use January and February as examples of what their revenues are normally since many businesses were hard hit in mid-March by the virus.
Trudeau said the 30 percent reduction in revenue was a problem for many new businesses and charities.
The federal government said charities can choose to include or exclude government subsidies when they calculate their loss in revenue.
Trudeau also announced changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program that includes an increase to the wage subsidy, an extension to the end date for employment to February 28, 2021, and allowing employers to hire staff on a part-time basis.
