862,000 Canadians Who Need Help Will Not Get It. Send Direct Assistance to Everyone

TORONTO – Today, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh continued to call on the Prime Minister to make sure everyone who needs help to get through this crisis, gets it. As it stands, it is estimated that 862,000 Canadians who need help, will get nothing through Employment Insurance or the government’s Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

“Every day this week, the Prime Minister and the government has highlighted gaps with the CERB, but they are unable to tell Canadians when those gaps will be fixed. Almost a million people who need the help won’t be covered. They can’t wait. They need to know how and when the CERB will be fixed,” said Singh. “As we have been saying for weeks, the quickest and best way to make sure government help gets to everyone who needs it, is to immediately send direct financial assistance to all Canadians.”

Singh encouraged the Prime Minister to move away from the complicated means-based system and implement a universal direct payment to all. A universal payment of $2,000 – with an additional $250 per child – to each person, remains the easiest and quickest way to get help to everyone who needs it. Singh also proposed amendments to fix the CERB so that it helps many more people who need it.

“We must find a way to make sure everyone in Canada can get through these unprecedented times with enough money to pay their bills; a job to go back to; and a safe place to live – and we need to do it as quickly as possible,” added Singh. “When the House of Commons returns, we have the opportunity to make changes so that all Canadians can get help. Let’s get it right this time.”