Ottawa Not Finished Helping Canadians Through Pandemic

The Member of Parliament for South Shore – St. Margarets says many Canadians still need federal aid to get through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bernadette Jordan is encouraged to see over a million Canadians come off the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit last month, but cautions, efforts to get people back to work isn’t over.

“We still have close to six million who are relying on it. So, we’re going to make sure that those people are looked after. That has always been our priority, is making sure the people who need the support get it.”

Jordan says the federal government has heard the concerns that people are unwilling to come off CERB and return to their regular jobs.

She says whenever someone applies for the benefit going forward, they must sign an attestation that confirms they are indeed looking for work.

Jordan was at Amos Pewter in Mahone Bay on Thursday, speaking about federal government efforts to assist small businesses.

Owner, of Amos Pewter Don Sheehan says having to lay off staff during pandemic was one of the most stressful times he has seen since the business was established in the 1974.

Sheehan says the Federal Wage Subsidy, providing an employer 75 percent of an employees wages up to $847 a week, was crucial in retaining 80 percent of their staff.

“And as we got further into the season we’ve added more people under that program: existing staff that we had and new staff that we would not have hired. We would not have opened our external locations if it wasn’t for the subsidy.”

Sheehan says four of the six Amos Pewter locations have reopened with the help of the Wage Subsidy and CERB programs.

He is hopeful the benefits will continue as his company copes with a huge decline in tourists.

“Importantly for us, is that this program was extended into August. More importantly is that we hope it extends beyond that. Because if not, we will have to revisit our level of operations.”

Jordan was making her first public appearance since the COVID -19 restrictions were put in place.

Through a face mask, Jordan also commented on the opening of the Atlantic bubble.

She praised the work of Premier Stephen McNeil and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Strang to keep Nova Scotians safe.

“I know that they have taken a very cautious approach to this. I think they have taken the right approach and I think that they will continue to do that and I look forward to seeing what comes in the coming months.”

Jordan also answered questions in her role as Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.

She says her department has seen huge uptake from small to medium-sized seafood producers looking to capitalize on the $62.5 million Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund announced last month.

But benefit and grant programs designed to assist harvesters are still getting off the ground.

“They have not rolled out yet. This is building a whole new program. It takes a little bit of time but I’m hoping to have something very soon to announce on those.”

Jordan says the Canadian government understands the need to get the county’s economy back on track and they have a plan to do it.

“The best way to bring the economy back quickly and efficiently is by getting Canadians back to work.”

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson