Liberals table COVID-19 aid bill with targeted supports to businesses, workers | FULL

Credit: Global News

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland was joined by Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Minister Carla Qualtrough on Wednesday to table a long-awaited aid bill aimed at giving targeted supports to businesses still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Freeland announced the introduction of Bill C-2, which would extend previously announced programs as well as “deliver more targeted support” to businesses and workers facing pandemic-related challenges.

According to the press release, the new Local Lockdown Program would “provide businesses that face temporary new local lockdowns up to the maximum amount available through the wage and rent subsidy programs.”

The bill also proposes to extend the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit until May 7, 2022 and to increase the maximum duration of those benefits by another two weeks.