Posted March 20, 2020

The Government of Canada released the Economic Response Plan to deal with the crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The response is timely as it lays out a range of benefits for Canadians as well as businesses to stay afloat in these extremely challenging times. See here for Summary of Federal Stimulus Package

However, the government response needs to go further in light of the challenges tenants are currently facing with COVID-19. There will still be substantial gaps between what people need and what the government has brought in with the stimulus package. For example, the support benefit will likely provide only 55% of earnings like the EI and the roll out timing may not be as quickly as it is needed. The need is acute especially, in the 20 ridings across the country with the toughest affordability challenges where more than 25% of the renters spend at least 50% of their income on rent and utilities; and the 53% of Canadians who live paycheque to paycheque.

This is why ACORN is calling on the Government to further step up its response as a rapidly escalating crisis demands an even STRONGER response!

Rent Freeze / Suspension of Rents:

- Enact a temporary rent free period for renters

- A moratorium on all Evictions in Canada until the World Health Organization declares the COVID 19 pandemic has ended. Not just Ontario!

Payment freeze on all high interest loans with NO penalty. It’s great that the mortgage payments and line of credit payments have been extended but low and moderate income people often have high interest loans like installment loans and payday loans that have 30 - 500% interest!

The federal government needs to mandate that the banks END NSFs.

All internet companies should immediately give all people below the low income measure FREE internet so that, while in isolation, all people can keep in touch and participate in online education!

Federal government must step in where provincial governments don't and introduce the above measures for tenants and low income people in their jurisdictions.

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