Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday the federal government is creating the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program.
The benefit will provide forgivable loans to landlords who will be able to cut rent for their commercial tenants by 75 per cent.
Eligible landlords may begin applying for the new benefit beginning May 25.
The federal/provincial governments would cover 50 per cent of the rent, landlords another 25 per cent, the tenant to pay the rest with the help of other, existing federal government COVID-19 financial aid packages.
Parents collecting the Canada Child Benefit will receive an extra $300 for each child to help offset pandemic-related costs, as a one-time help in May. Some parents who normally wouldn’t qualify for the benefit because they have a higher income will get smaller cheques.
Trudeau also said applications are open, effective Wednesday, for loans for large companies under the previously announced Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF).
The loans are described as a last resort for companies with more than $300 million in annual revenues and requesting more than $60 million in loans.
Provincially, Premier Doug Ford, accompanied by Minister of Health Christine Elliott and Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney, issued directives to public transit employees and passengers.
The province called for fewer passengers, physical markers between seats, using a mask when social distancing isn’t possible, availability of alcohol-based hand rub upon entering and exiting a public transit vehicle and the erecting of plexiglass windows between drivers and passengers.
As reported earlier Ontario has 390 new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday morning, along with 43 COVID-19 related additional deaths.
The province has now reported 23,774 cases of COVID-19. Of those, 1,962 people (over 8 per cent) have died, and 18,190 people (76.5 per cent) are reported recovered.
Public Health Ontario has reported 1,224 deaths of long-term care residents as a result of COVID-19, which is 62.4 per cent of all deaths reported by the provincial agency.
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers from Algoma Public Health:
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5,953 tested
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20 positive
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5,644 negative
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289 pending
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0 deceased
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13 resolved
Total confirmed cases by area of residence:
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16 in Sault Ste. Marie and area, with evidence of community spread
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1 in central and east Algoma
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3 in Elliot Lake and area ***
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0 in north Algoma
Algoma Public Health states “these numbers now include testing that was completed at long-term care homes (LTCH) in the Algoma district as part of the province’s one-time surveillance testing initiative. Staff and residents of all Algoma LTCHs have completed one-time surveillance testing.”
*** Three positive cases in Elliot Lake and area have been confirmed by Elliot Lake Family Health Team
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