3/30/2020 All businesses seeing 30% drop in revenue due to pandemic will be eligible for 75% wage subsidies: Trudeau | CBC News CBC Politics · Live All businesses seeing 30% drop in revenue due to pandemic will be eligible for 75% wage subsidies: Trudeau Chief public health officer says 'crucial' week will determine if social distancing is working Kathleen Harris · CBC News · Posted: Mar 30, 2020 10:09 AM ET | Last Updated: 3 minutes ago Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses the country following his promise for new funding for vulnerable Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic. 0:00 comments Businesses and non-profit organizations seeing a drop of at least 30 per cent in revenue due to COVID-19 will qualify for the government's 75 per cent wage subsidy program, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today. During the daily media briefing outside his residence at Rideau Cottage, Trudeau said the number of people a business employs will not determine its eligibility. Charities and companies big and small will qualify, he said. For those companies experiencing a decrease in revenues of at least 30 per cent, the government will cover up to 75 per cent of a salary on the first $58,700, which could mean payments of up to $847 a week. The prime minister also encouraged businesses to top up their employees wages with the remaining 25 per cent of their salaries. Trudeau said the wage subsidies will be retroactive to March 15, 2020. More details of the program will be unveiled tomorrow by Finance Minister Bill Morneau. Trudeau also said that the program must operate on a basis of good faith and trust — and warned that there will be "serious consequences" for those who abuse it. "We are trusting you to do the right thing," he said. "If you have the means to pay the remaining 25 per cent that is not covered by the subsidy, do it. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-covid19-business-supports-1.5514558 1/5 3/30/2020 All businesses seeing 30% drop in revenue due to pandemic will be eligible for 75% wage subsidies: Trudeau | CBC News "And if you think this is a system you can game or take advantage of, don't." Trudeau said there will be measures in place to prevent exploitation but added that, in a time of "unprecedented" emergency, the government had to act quickly. He said those who do take advantage of the program will face "stiff consequences" from society and the government. THE LATEST Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world Monday Government boosts wage subsidy to 75% for small, medium businesses to avoid layoffs during COVID-19 crisis The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) said it's pleased the government appears ready to keep the administrative requirements light to ensure the money flows swiftly. "We stand ready to support government with any retroactive measures needed to address anyone found cheating the intent of this or other support programs," says a statement from CFIB. While more details on the wage subsidy program are "urgently needed," the CFIB said the approach announced by Trudeau today will give "significant relief" to tens of thousands of employers and hundreds of thousands of employees. "The decision to make the wage subsidy widely available to employers of all sizes and structures is the right approach given the unique nature of the COVID-19 pandemic," the statement reads. "The wage subsidy is the single best measure to help Canada prepare for a quick recovery the minute the emergency phase of the pandemic is over." Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Health Minister Patty Hajdu, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez are holding a news conference in Ottawa at noon ET, speaking about the potential role for the Canadian Armed Forces during the COVID-19 crisis. Trudeau announced the broad strokes of the support programs Friday, saying the new measures would help small businesses avoid layoffs or closures because of economic https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-covid19-business-supports-1.5514558 2/5 3/30/2020 All businesses seeing 30% drop in revenue due to pandemic will be eligible for 75% wage subsidies: Trudeau | CBC News uncertainty caused by the global pandemic. Top public health officer says coming week a crucial period in COVID-19 struggle The government previously announced a 10 per cent wage subsidy for businesses, but Trudeau acknowledged that was not enough. Trudeau said the government also promised to guarantee loans of up to $40,000 for small businesses which will be interest-free for the first year, as a way to help businesses "bridge to better times." Under certain conditions, up to $10,000 of the loans could be non-repayable. Trudeau also announced that GST and HST payments, as well as duties and taxes owed on imports, will be deferred until June, which he said amounts to $30 billion in interest-free loans to businesses. 'Crucial' week in COVID-19 fight New details about the programs come at the beginning of what Canada's chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam has described as a crucial week in determining whether physical distancing and other measures to stop the spread of the virus are having a significant effect. Tam said Sunday she is closely watching Ontario, Quebec and Alberta — provinces where there has been community spread of the virus — to see if there is a decrease in the rate of infections. Mandatory closures of businesses and other economically damaging measures caused by the public health emergency have led to millions of Canadians being thrown out of work. More than 1.6 million Canadians have applied for employment insurance (EI) in less than 10 days. Canadians who don't qualify for EI can soon apply for the the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), which offers income support for up to 16 weeks to those who lose their jobs, get sick, go into quarantine or have to stay home because of school closures. The benefit amounts to about $2,000 a month. The government has said an application portal run by the Canada Revenue Agency will be set up in early April — possibly by April 6 — and that payments should flow about 10 days later. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-covid19-business-supports-1.5514558 3/5 3/30/2020 All businesses seeing 30% drop in revenue due to pandemic will be eligible for 75% wage subsidies: Trudeau | CBC News Your daily guide to the coronavirus outbreak. Get the latest news, tips on prevention and your coronavirus questions answered every evening. 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