43rd Parliament223Government response tabledSeptember 24, 2020e-2579e-2579 (Social affairs and equality)MarilynCoxJennyKwanVancouver EastNDPBCMay 7, 2020, at 10:48 a.m. (EDT)June 6, 2020, at 10:48 a.m. (EDT)June 15, 2020September 24, 2020June 8, 2020Petition to the <Addressee type="1" affiliationId="" mp-riding-display="1">House of Commons</Addressee>Whereas:The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating economic impact on Canadians nationwide, especially low to modest income earners, small businesses, gig workers, freelancers, artists, film industry workers, non-salaried workers, and individuals on fixed incomes such as seniors and people with disabilities;Rent, mortgage and utilities payment are due at the end of the month, putting countless Canadians at risk of losing their housing;It is of paramount importance to be able to safely self-quarantine, self-isolate, and practice social distancing at home for the effort to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus;The economic measures announced by the federal government will not flow in time to meet the immediate needs of Canadians and leaves ineligible Canadians falling through the cracks; andSome provinces have enacted moratoriums on evictions while others have not.We, the undersigned, residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to immediately enact a nationwide rent freeze, eviction freeze, mortgage freeze, and utilities freeze; enforce mortgage deferrals for homeowners without penalty/interest charges from financial institutions; and provide direct assistance in the form of a monthly universal direct payment of $2000 per month for all, with an additional $250 per child immediately until the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
Response by the Minister of SeniorsSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): IREK KUSMIERCZYKThis is a challenging time for all Canadians, and the Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant and decisive actions to help Canadians facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.The Government has invested billions in targeted income support to individuals, businesses, key sectors, and community organizations on the frontlines of serving Canadians. In addition to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), which is providing $500 per week to eligible individuals impacted by the forced shutdown of the economy, and measures to help companies pay rent and keep their employees working, the Government also announced measures that provided financial support to vulnerable Canadians that helped limit income inequality and promote opportunity during this challenging time.
  • For lower income Canadians, the one-time Goods and Services Tax Credit payment delivered to eligible recipients in April 2020 effectively doubled the maximum annual amounts for the 2019-20 benefit year, benefiting over 12 million individuals and families. The average additional benefit is close to $400 for single individuals and close to $600 for couples. The Government delivered $5.5B through this measure.
  • For families with children, the Government’s one-time $300 increase to Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payments in May 2020 provided additional support to 3.7 million families to help pay for groceries, children’s at-home learning activities, and other necessities during this time. The overall increase for families receiving the child benefit was around $550 on average. The Government delivered almost $2B through this measure.
  • For seniors, the one-time tax-free payment of $300 to Old Age Security (OAS) recipients, with an additional payment of $200 to Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) recipients, and $500 to Allowance recipients provided increased support to help offset costs that seniors face right now, such as grocery delivery and medications. As of April 2020, 6.5 million seniors receive OAS payments and were eligible for the one-time payment. Of those, 2.1 million seniors are also receiving the GIS. The Government  delivered $2.5B through these measures.
These are just a few examples of the supports the Government has provided to Canadians during this difficult time. As of July 3, 2020, the Government has invested almost $232 billion in direct federal measures as part of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan.With regard to basic income, the Government of Canada continually undertakes research and analysis on a range of policies and programs that could positively impact Canada’s economy and society as part of its efforts to ensure that all Canadians have a real and fair opportunity to succeed.The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of working with provinces and territories to find solutions to common challenges. However, it is important to acknowledge that it is up to the provincial and territorial governments to make decisions around the design of social assistance systems and policies in their own jurisdictions.The Government of Canada already has programs with many of the features of a basic income, such as the CCB for families with children, and the OAS and GIS program for seniors. In addition, existing programs such as the Canada Workers Benefit and Employment Insurance provide income supports for low-income individuals with labour market attachment or those with insurable employment. The Government is however aware of views regarding the existing Employment Insurance benefits and leave system and that the changing nature of work presents challenges in providing support to all Canadians in their unique circumstances.In response to COVID-19, the Government of Canada is continuing to explore a variety of potential shorter and longer-term policy responses that could address the ongoing needs of Canadians.  
Response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of FinanceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Chrystia FreelandMany Canadians are facing challenges as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Having a safe and affordable place to live is critical and so we have put measures in place to help ensure Canadians can remain in their homes.The scope and scale of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 economic response plan includes income support measures to help Canadians pay their rent and put food on the table. These measures have helped to protect millions of jobs, provide emergency support to families, and keep businesses afloat throughout the pandemic.  Since the launch of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), over 3 million Canadian employees have had their jobs supported with more than $27 billion paid out in wage subsidies as of August 16, 2020. The government introduced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), a taxable benefit of $2,000 every four weeks for up to 28 weeks for eligible workers who are directly affected by COVID-19. This benefit has helped more than 8.6 million people pay their bills during this challenging time. The Government’s Economic and Fiscal Snapshot 2020, issued on July 8, 2020, provides more information on how these programs can help individuals.As the Government of Canada is working to support Canadians through the pandemic, we expect Canadian banks to work to support people who are facing financial difficulty to explore available options to help them get through this challenging time.For individuals, lenders have provided payment deferral supports including: up to a six-month payment deferral for mortgages; payment deferrals for loans, including lines of credit and auto loans; and relief on credit cards, including reduced interest rates, by as much as 50 per cent.According to the Canadian Bankers Association, as of July 31, 2020, more than 775,000 Canadians have been provided mortgage deferrals or skip-a-payment relief, and over 470,000 approvals or requests to defer credit card minimum payments have been processed.In addition, banks are providing direct deposit enrolment for emergency response benefits for Canadians, including the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB), and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), to enable timely availability of these benefits to Canadians.Rental housing falls under landlord-tenant legislation which is under provincial jurisdiction. You may wish to get in touch with the province for more specific information. Several provinces and territories, representing roughly 99% of Canada’s population, have issued full or partial eviction bans.  The Government of Canada continues to support the extension of eviction moratoriums.The Government of Canada will continue to monitor and respond to the health, social, and economic impacts of COVID-19. We stand ready to take additional actions as needed to support all Canadians while stabilizing the economy.The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) is monitoring the commitments made by the banks to support consumers facing hardship.
COVID-19Eviction from rented accommodationMortgagesPandemicRentSocial benefitsUtilities