Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is expanding the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to cover more people than it does now.

CERB, which provides up to $2,000 per month for Canadians who have lost their job or can’t work because of COVID-19, will soon be open to people who earn up to $1,000 per month, seasonal workers and people who have recently run out of Employment Insurance (EI).

Trudeau also says Ottawa is planning to ‘top up’ the pay of essential workers who earn less than $2,500 per month, including many people who work in long-term care homes.