We are in a critical moment!
On Wednesday, the Federal government approved an emergency fund for workers impacted by the COVID19 crisis. It’s called the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and it replaces the programs announced by the government last week. CERB will give $2000/month to workers who have lost their jobs or income because of COVID19. It will be available in early April and money should start arriving within two weeks of applying.
Now the Prime Minister and other Federal Ministers (Cabinet) will be finalizing the details of how people can access the program.
These details are crucial. What you do now can help ensure hundreds of thousands of migrant workers, undocumented people and workers earning cash receive the financial support they so desperately need.
Name, you need to call Cabinet Ministers and tell them to ensure everyone receives comprehensive income support immediately regardless of immigration status.
Use the form above and we will connect you! Your call WILL make a difference.
Already our actions are working. On Monday, hundreds of us called Trudeau and Members of Parliament. Migrant workers across the country – and many from abroad – made the calls too. As a result, the law passed on Wednesday promises income supports for residents, not just ‘Canadians’. The government has said that some migrant workers and students can apply for this fund!
This is a major step forward, but it’s not enough. The government has said it will be asking for Social Insurance Numbers when workers apply for support. This will exclude undocumented people, workers in transition from one kind of permit to another, and workers recently arriving who have not received their SIN yet. The fund will be administered through the Canada Revenue Agency, and this will discourage many people from applying.
We need Cabinet to make rules that ensure everyone, regardless of Social Insurance Number, immigration status, or whether they feel comfortable using the CRA system, can get the supports they need. Yesterday, a majority of migrant groups in Canada sent a letter to Cabinet. Read it here.
Now it’s your turn. Call now! Decisions about how this fund will be administered are being made right now, so we have no time to lose! Let let your friends, and us, know by tagging @MigrantRightsCA on facebook, twitter or instagram.