The federal government is now accepting online applications for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), which will provide employers with a 75 per cent wage subsidy for employees.
Payments via direct deposit will be issued to eligible applicants beginning May 7.
Trudeau noted that people who receive the wage subsidy no longer qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.
The federal government received nearly 10,000 online applications for the CEWS program as of 6 a.m. Monday morning.
The prime minister says the federal government will continue working with premiers to draft a framework for re-opening the economy.
Any plan for re-opening, Trudeau says, would have to include established guidelines and principles for the re-opening of economic sectors and industries, in addition to guidelines for testing and medical capabilities.
In provincial news, Ontario Premier Doug Ford introduced the framework for a gradual re-opening of businesses, services and public spaces Monday, but warned that the province will not set hard dates for its plan until it's ready.
"We must ensure that our plans for re-opening the economy reflect Ontario's unique situation - they must be responsible, they must be measured, and they must be guided by our Chief Medical Officer of Health, our command table and our health experts," Ford said during Monday's announcement.
Here are the three stages for re-opening Ontario's economy, as outlined in a press release from the province:
- Stage 1: For businesses that were ordered to close or restrict operations, opening select workplaces that can immediately modify operations to meet public health guidance. Opening some outdoor spaces like parks and allowing for a greater number of individuals to attend some events. Hospitals would also begin to offer some non-urgent and scheduled surgeries, and other health care services.
- Stage 2: Opening more workplaces, based on risk assessments, which may include some service industries and additional office and retail workplaces. Some larger public gatherings would be allowed, and more outdoor spaces would open.
- Stage 3: Opening of all workplaces responsibly and further relaxing of restrictions on public gatherings.
Some conditions will have to satisfied to re-open the province's economy, including:
- A consistent two-to-four week decrease in the number of new daily COVID-19 cases;
- Sufficient acute and critical care capacity, including access to ventilators and ongoing availability of personal protective equipment;
- Approximately 90 per cent of new COVID-19 contacts are being reached by local public health officials within one day, with guidance and direction to contain community spread; and
- Ongoing testing of suspected COVID-19 cases, especially of vulnerable populations, to detect new outbreaks quickly.
"There is light at the end of this tunnel. We have a clear path forward to safely and gradually ease restrictions, but to meet these criteria and begin to move forward, we need everyone to continue their extraordinary efforts to stay home," said health minister Christine Elliott Monday. "Your determination and resolve have been nothing but short of remarkable."
Ontario reported 424 new COVID-19 cases and 57 deaths attributed to the virus Monday, but recoveries from COVID-19 have outnumbered new cases for the second consecutive day in the province.
In local news, a trio of protesting Saultites say emergency measures being taken during the COVID-19 crisis are posing a threat to freedom.
The City of Sault Ste. Marie and Sault Ste. Marie Police Service are reminding people that all emergency orders currently in place under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act will remain in effect until at least May 6 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The athletics department at Sault College is planning for different scenarios surrounding how sports could be impacted this fall.
Sault College is also back on the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association golf circuit when sports do resume.
In this week's edition of Happenings, the annual Run for Change mental health fundraiser is going to happen virtually this year due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from Algoma Public Health:
- 1,848 tested
- 13 positive
- 1,400 negative
- 435 pending
- 0 deceased
- 9 resolved
Total confirmed cases by area of residence:
- 9 in Sault Ste. Marie and area
- 1 in central and east Algoma
- 3 in Elliot Lake and area
- 0 in north Algoma
