Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that the Canada Emergency Response Benefit program will be extended another 8 weeks.
The first application period for CERB opened in early April, and all Canadians were eligible to claim a 16-week period of payment. Now that period is to end in July. The July payment would be the last payment for Canadians to recieve their CERB.
More than 8 million people have applied for the CERB program since the pandemic started. While there shouldn't be any major changes to the program. The government continues to emphasize that they are looking to find ways for those who can go back to work to do so rather than staying home and staying on the financial aid program, but even though businesses are gradually opening some Canadians are still left without a job. Although, 1.2 million Canadians have dropped off the program, either because they have gone back to work or their employer moved them onto the wage subsidy program.
The total amount spend as of June 4th is: $43.5 billion dollars for 8.4 million Canadians in CERB $2,000 dollar monthly payments.
Plus, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also announced that Canada and the United States agreed to extend the border measures that are already in place by 30 days, until July 21. "It is a decision that will protect people on both sides of the border as we continue to fight COVID-19," he said. Non-essential movements have been prohibited between the two countries since March 21.