The Federal Government has decided that businesses of any size will be eligible for the wage support program that guarantees 75% of an employee’s income if they are kept on the payroll during the Covid19 pandemic.

When the plan was first unveiled last Friday, the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy would apply only to small and medium size businesses.

• However, when spelling out more details at his daily briefing, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there is now no size requirement for eligibility.
• Instead, whether a company has ten employees or one thousand employees it will qualify if it has losses of 30% of its revenues because of Covid19.
• Retroactive to March 15, Ottawa will subsidize seventy-five per cent — to a maximum of $58,700 a year — of an employee’s income, as long as that person is on a company payroll and whether or not they are actually working. That works out to about $847 a week.

Trudeau said the program is designed to help workers buy groceries now and to have a job to return to when the crisis passes. Non-profit organizations and charities will also be eligible for the program.

Trudeau said that the program is being rushed into place, and by necessity and will operate on trust.  But he warned there will be serious consequences for businesses that try to “game” the system.

Defence Minister Hajit Sajjan and the Chief of the Defence Staff, General John Vance announced that twenty-four thousand members of the Armed Forces have been identified to respond in any province and in the North if asked for assist in combating Covid19.

The provincial government launched their dedicated website for Expanded Information of Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Across the Province

The dedicated website can be seen here:  https://covid-19.ontario.ca/

• The new summary will provide more provincial and regional data on confirmed cases, including trends of cases since the outbreak began, geography, exposure and severity.

The Chief Medical Officer of Health reiterated again today for Ontarians to stay home to flatten the curve and stop the spread of COVID-19.  The CMO has strongly recommend that all Ontarians stay home except for essential reasons, such as to:

• Access health care services;
• Shop for groceries;
• Pick-up medication at the pharmacy;
• Walk pets when required; and
• Support vulnerable community members with meeting the above needs.

The CMO has also strongly recommended that persons over 70 years of age self-isolate. This also applies to individuals who have compromised immune systems and/or underlying medical conditions.

The Premier acknowledged that PPE’s and other necessities are in demand all over the world and that Ontario is working hard with local industry and other partners to ensure that our medical supply needs are met.

The Premier called on Ontarians again to stay home to slow the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve.  He said that seeing the streets packed during the weekend’s nice weather was disappointing.  He reiterated that all options are on the table to protect Ontarians and slow the spread.

The Premier announced today an investment of  $243 million for long-term care homes to support 24/7 screening, additional staffing, enhanced cleaning and sanitation, and additional surge capacity.

The Premier announced a further $70 million dollars for retirement homes, residential facilities and emergency shelters.   The funds will go 24/7 screening, additional staffing, enhanced cleaning and sanitation

“It’s never been more important that all Ontarians heed the advice of our Chief Medical Officer of Health by staying home and practicing physical distancing,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This is especially true because it’s the only way to protect our seniors and the most vulnerable people in our province. All of us need to do our part to stop the spread of this virus.”

The media asked the Premier about increased compensation for health care workers. The Premier advised that they will look at this once our Province is through the COVID-19 crisis.

The Premier was asked about extending the Provincial State of Emergency. The Premier advised that it would be extended. He confirmed that the extensions are in two-week segments and an announcement will be made in near future extending it out another two weeks.