According to an Angus Reid poll released on March 25, 44 per cent of Canadians say they or someone in their household has lost work hours due to the economic downturn as a result of COVID-19.

Among this group, the majority say their employers are not covering any of their now disappeared wages.

On Wednesday, Finance Minister Rod Phillips announced and passed Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19, which is the provincial government’s economic and fiscal update.

The plan proposed $17 billion in spending in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of that package, the government announced they would be expanding access to the emergency assistance program administered by Ontario Works at a cost of $52 million, which could help those across Ontario who have lost work.

“It’s expanding eligibility,” said Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey.

Ontario Works provides financial support to people facing economic hardship and aims to help more people meet basic needs such as food and rent.

The province is providing additional resources and expanding access by suspending the rule that limits emergency assistance provision to only once in a six-month period for individuals and families and allowing people to receive emergency assistance for longer (48 days) without submitting a full Ontario Works application, according to the Ministry of Community and Social Services.

Those who are already on Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), tourists and visitors are not eligible. Individuals can apply for this assistance online at Ontario.ca/community or through local Ontario Works offices.

The government is also making additional resources available to enable Ontario Works and ODSP administrators to provide discretionary benefits to those currently in receipt of social assistance.

This funding can be used to meet a broad range of needs ― including cleaning supplies, transportation, food or clothing ― that individuals and families may be experiencing due to COVID-19.

Individuals can access benefits through the Ontario Works program through online applications such as MyBenefits, contacting their Ontario Works caseworker or online at Ontario.ca/community. ODSP recipients are also eligible to receive these benefits and can contact their ODSP case worker for additional information

While there isn’t direct support on the provincial side for rent and food, Downey said the provincial government is helping in many ways.

“We’re lowering hydro costs through our energy programs. We’re helping them in a variety of other ways,” he said.

To read the full Angus Reid poll on the COVID-19 economic impact, click here.

On Wednesday, the provincial government announced and passed their economic and fiscal update which will see $17 billion in spending in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $17 billion is split between three types of support: $3.7 billion for people and jobs, $3.3 billion for health care, and $10 billion to improve cash flow through tax and other deferrals.

To read our story on the original announcement, click here.