The Trudeau Liberals are scheduled to introduce a new aid bill Wednesday afternoon that aims to provide targeted financial support to businesses still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bill listed on the latest agenda for the House of Commons would also send income-support payments to workers who find themselves off the job because of a public health order.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland outlined the broad details of the plan in late October when the Liberals decided to let a trio of special pandemic benefits expire.
READ MORE: A look at which COVID-19 benefits are expiring and what’s new
At the time, Freeland said more details on which workers and businesses would qualify for help would come at a later date.
The Liberals estimated that creating new, targeted benefits through to May would cost roughly $8 billion, and the government needs parliamentary approval to spend the money.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Tuesday his party couldn’t support a bill that would cut help for workers, while Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois separately suggested they may support the bill — the former because benefits will go where needed most, the latter because it may mean help for cultural workers.
© 2021 The Canadian Press
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