Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government will not allow companies that use offshore tax havens to receive COVID-19 bailout funds.

During the House of Commons’ first virtual sitting Tuesday, Trudeau was pressed by the Bloc Québécois to prevent companies that don’t pay their fair share of tax from benefitting from government aid.

“We will continue to ensure that those who need help will get it, but those who evade or avoid tax will not receive aid,” he said.

Last week, under repeated questioning from both the BQ and NDP, Trudeau had refused to make the same commitment, saying that his government would not withhold wage subsidies from a worker just because of the behaviour of their employer.

Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet later tweeted: “The government seems to have finally accepted (to do this). But I doubt it. We will be watching.”

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