Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admits the COVID-19 aid packages his government brought in aren’t perfect, and may have been misused by a small number of people
At his pandemic update, Trudeau said the government knew there would be mistakes with programs like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.
“There may be a number of people who mistakenly took both the CERB and the (Canada Emergency) Wage Subsidy, because they weren’t sure what they were going to do and they were really worried, and they just took everything,” Trudeau said. “Those people will simply have to pay back the one that they shouldn’t have taken, and we’re not looking at punishing people who make honest mistakes.”
He adds those who deliberately take advantage of the system will be punished.
Trudeau also says those programs will change as the economic and employment situation changes while we emerge from the pandemic.
“Obviously, as the economy starts to re-open, there will be more and more people going back to work, more and more companies will choose to take the Wage Subsidy, and therefore, people will be leaving the CERB to get onto that because people can start working and be connected to a job; even while they get income support.”
The Prime Minister was also asked how his government would pay off a projected $260 billion debt due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Trudeau says the focus has been on helping Canadians and businesses keep their heads afloat.
“We will need to look very carefully at how we remain fiscally responsible as we move forward, but the best thing to focus on is ensuring Canadians can come back from this strongly,” Trudeau said. “That they can get back to work, that they can re-open their stores and their businesses.”
Trudeau says with interest rates low, the debt servicing cost will also be low.
{CJGX}
