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OTTAWA — An emergency federal bill to give the government billions of dollars to spend to help anxious workers, families and employers cope with COVID-19 is now law.

Gov. Gen. Julie Payette signed the bill at 12:18 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday, after both the House of Commons and Senate issued speedy approvals earlier in the day.

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The bill allows the federal government up to $52 billion in funds to directly help Canadians, including a repackaged aid program for workers who can’t work for almost any reason connected to the virus.

That Canada Emergency Response Benefit will offer $2,000 a month in direct support through the Canada Revenue Agency, and is the main reason the cost of direct COVID-19 aid nearly doubled from an estimated $27 billion last week to $52 billion now.

Another $55 billion is on the table in deferred tax payments for business and individuals.

Canadians who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and are struggling to make ends meet anxiously awaited promised federal help on Wednesday as the countrywide outbreak passed the 3,000 mark.