Trudeau confirms US border closure, promises aid to Canadians & businesses of up to C$27bn
March 19, 2020 in News by RBN Staff
Source: RT
Canadians “will no longer be able to cross the border for recreation and tourism,” Trudeau announced on Wednesday in a press conference, echoing the words of US President Donald Trump earlier that morning. Trudeau also stressed that “supply chains will not be affected” by the closure and that medicines, food, and other “critical” supplies would continue to flow between the countries.
ALSO ON RT.COMUS and Canada will close border to ‘nonessential’ traffic due to coronavirus – TrumpThe PM attempted to reassure Canadians worried about their economic future, promising to supply up to C$27 billion in “direct support to Canadian workers and businesses” on top of C$55 billion in tax deferrals for businesses and families “to stabilize the economy.” Those who owe taxes have until August to pay, he said.
Trudeau unveiled a roughly-equivalent biweekly “emergency care benefit” to be doled out over 14 weeks for “workers who have to stay home” – the sick, the quarantined, and their caretakers and family – who don’t qualify for employment insurance. He also announced an “emergency support benefit” for the self-employed forced to shutter their businesses and a three-month temporary wage subsidy to small business owners, equivalent to 10 percent of normal wages, in order to keep employees on payroll and avoid mass layoffs.
Beefed-up benefits for low-income Canadian families with children and indigenous people, a six-month moratorium on student loan payments, and a 200 percent expansion of the country’s homeless aid program were among the other line items in the aid package. “In Canada, public health should never hinge on financial considerations,” the PM said.
Trudeau hinted at a broad aid package for businesses, particularly in those sectors hardest-hit by the coronavirus, though he neglected to name specifics aside from agricultural exporters, merely promising to “make sure the economy rebounds” after the crisis. The border closure would last “as long as it’s necessary,” he said, without letting on when it would start.
Many responses to the PM’s speech on social media were positive (or at least guardedly optimistic), with critics expressing relief he had finally put his political agendas away.
For the first time today, Trudeau sounded Prime Ministerial and not like an actor breathlessly speaking his lines. Good. This is what is needed. https://twitter.com/kinsellawarren/status/1240297403732971522 …
Warren Kinsella✔@kinsellawarren
Trudeau announces $82 billion in aid for Canadians; Canada/U.S. border will be closed to non-essential traffic; Banks will allow mortgage payments deferrals | The Star https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/03/18/latest-coronavirus-covid-19-news-canada-updates-pandemic.html …
Some expressed concern over the notoriously permeable border crossing at Roxham Road, favored by illegals who reportedly cross in the thousands every month, remaining open. Those new arrivals will merely be quarantined for 14 days in special shelters and receive medical screening, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair announced on Tuesday, a rule that has not apparently changed in the wake of the border’s closure to pretty much everyone else.
Hey, @JustinTrudeau – Your move. It is time you put the lives of Canadians ahead of your personal ideology and political agendas. #CloseRoxhamRoad https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1240053317977493506 …
The New York Times✔@nytimes
The Trump administration plans to immediately turn back all asylum seekers and other foreigners attempting to enter the U.S. from Mexico illegally. The new rule is set to be announced in the next 48 hours. https://nyti.ms/2xMYhc1
Just when you think the Trudeau government couldn’t get any stupider, Blair says hold my beer at Roxham Road. https://twitter.com/CTVNews/status/1240002150559866880 …
CTV News✔@CTVNews
Blair says irregular border crossers screened for COVID-19 http://ctv.news/y1Ye7KQ
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