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107 Billion COVID-19 Aid Package Passed加拿大国会通过1070亿援助法案;5 billion BC Action Plan卑诗省50亿应急计划


(Originally posted on March 25, 2020)


  • $107 Billion COVID-19 Aid Package Passed 加拿大国会通过1070亿援助法案;

  • $5 billion BC Action Plan 卑诗省重磅实施50亿应急计划;

  • Supporting renters, landlords 支援房客和房东;

  • World Updates for COVID19 and More 世界疫情更新等





COVID-19: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged everyone to stay home. And so do your friends and family members. Help spread the word and tag your friends to remind them to stay home too. And together, we can #PlankTheCurve#StayAtHomeSaveLives.



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Ottawa's $107 Billion COVID-19 Aid Package Passed by Parliament

PM Trudeau was addressing the media on the 14th day of his self-isolation
PM Trudeau was addressing the media on March 25, 2020, the 14th day of his self-isolation

The Canadian government and opposition parties in Parliament have passed an $107 billion aid package bill to help Canadians struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic — legislation that will boost access to employment insurance and other programs that will flow money to workers and businesses in need.


The Senate heard from Finance Minister Bill Morneau Wednesday, who painted a grim picture of the state of the Canadian economy — saying it was essential for Parliament to approve a plan to get money to Canadians in need as a time when hundreds of thousands of workers are facing unemployment.


Morneau said Canada is suffering an "enormous" number of job losses right now, but the government hopes and expects those losses will be temporary.


Under the legislation, workers would have access to as much as $2,000 a month for four months.


Canadian workers over the age of 15 who have earned more than $5,000 in the last 12 months but are now earning no income because of the COVID-19 pandemic would qualify. Workers, including freelancers, will have access to the CERB even if they do not have access to the current employment insurance (EI) program.


Morneau, responding to a question from a senator, said the government needs to ensure that employment will be there for people when the pandemic is over. The current situation, he said, is "absolutely unprecedented."


The bill, as initially pitched, was worth about $82 billion but Morneau said Wednesday the price tag has increased sharply to $107 billion because the forthcoming emergency response benefit is more generous and will be available to more people.


Ottawa has now budgeted for $52 billion in direct support payments and $55 billion in tax deferrals.


With the bill now approved by the Commons, the plan is for the Senate to approve it Wednesday, followed immediately by royal assent.


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Supporting Renters, Landlords during COVID-19


Warm-hearted Quote:


“With lost jobs and lost wages due to COVID-19, many tenants are worried they can’t make the rent. It’s a challenging time for landlords too. Nobody should lose their home as a result of COVID-19. Our plan will give much-needed financial relief to renters and landlords. It will also provide more security for renters, who will be able to stay in their homes without fear of eviction or increasing rents during this emergency.”


- BC Premier, John Horgan

"Nobody should lose their home as a result of COVID-19", Premier Horgan was addressing the media
"Nobody should lose their home as a result of COVID-19", Premier Horgan was addressing the media

To support people and prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Province is introducing a new temporary rental supplement, halting evictions and freezing rents, among other actions.

The new rental supplement will help households by offering up to $500 a month towards their rent, building on federal and provincial financial supports already announced for British Columbians facing financial hardship.

The funds will support renters experiencing a loss of income by helping them pay their rent and will be paid directly to landlords on their behalf, to ensure landlords continue to receive rental income during the pandemic. Benefiting people with low to moderate incomes, this supplement will be available to renters who are facing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, but do not qualify for existing rental assistance programs.

“People are feeling a lot of fear and anxiety and they need to be able to depend on the comfort and stability of home right now. Our government is taking steps to help take some of the pressure off renters and landlords and protect people’s health,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “We’re helping renters pay rent and giving them the peace of mind that they have a stable home in these unprecedented times, and ensuring that landlords can count on some rental income right now to keep them afloat too.”

Spencer Chandra Herbert, MLA for Vancouver-West End, who led the Province’s Rental Housing Task Force, consulted with a broad range of tenant and landlord organizations to inform the development of these actions that meet the needs of both landlords and tenants during the pandemic.

“As we work together to fight this pandemic, we can’t afford to leave anyone behind,” Chandra Herbert said. “That’s why I delivered recommendations that address the immediate concerns of both landlords and tenants who are doing their best at this difficult time.”

The Province is implementing a number of additional measures to keep people housed and protect their health. The full list of immediate measures includes:

  • The new temporary rent supplement will provide up to $500 per month, paid directly to landlords.

  • Halting evictions by ensuring a landlord may not issue a new notice to end tenancy for any reason. However, in exceptional cases where it may be needed to protect health and safety or to prevent undue damage to the property, landlords will be able to apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch for a hearing.

  • Halting the enforcement of existing eviction notices issued by the Residential Tenancy Branch, except in extreme cases where there are safety concerns. The smaller number of court ordered evictions are up to the courts, which operate independently of government.

  • Freezing new annual rent increases during the state of emergency.

  • Preventing landlords from accessing rental units without the consent of the tenant (for example, for showings or routine maintenance), except in exceptional cases where it is needed to protect health and safety or to prevent undue damage to the unit.

  • Restricting methods that renters and landlords can use to serve notices to reduce the potential transmission of COVID-19 (no personal service and allowing email).

  • Allowing landlords to restrict the use of common areas by tenants or guests to protect against the transmission of COVID-19.

To further support renters and landlords, the Residential Tenancy Branch will implement several additional actions, including adjourning and rescheduling hearings in situations where people need additional time to prepare and extending timelines for filing applications for dispute resolution.

These latest steps are part of government’s $5-billion COVID-19 Action Plan to provide income supports, tax relief and direct funding for people, businesses and services.

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$5 billion BC Action Plan

British Columbians affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will benefit from $5 billion in income supports, tax relief and direct funding for people, businesses and services.

“The COVID-19 pandemic challenges our health, our economy and our way of life. People and businesses urgently need support,” said Premier John Horgan. “Our action plan focuses on services to protect people’s health and safety, gives immediate relief to people and businesses, and plans for B.C.’s economic recovery over the long term.”


The COVID-19 Action Plan is government’s first step to provide relief to people and businesses in British Columbia. The plan dedicates $2.8 billion to help people and fund the services they need to weather the crisis; $2.2 billion will provide relief to businesses and help them recover after the outbreak.

B.C.’s COVID-19 Action Plan builds on the federal government’s COVID-19 economic plan and boosts supports for British Columbians who are worried about paying their bills and staying afloat.

Supporting people and the services they rely on

The plan includes immediate measures to help individuals and families cope with potential illness, financial strain or precarious employment. It also adds funding to key services, such as health care, housing and social services, to make sure they continue to support British Columbians and help contain the spread of COVID-19.

“While this crisis continues, we need to make sure that people are kept safe and that vital services are available to British Columbians,” said Carole James, Minister of Finance. “That means making sure people can pay their bills, stay safe in their homes and provide for their families during this extraordinary time.”

Of the $2.8 billion allocated to ensure people have the services and support they need during this difficult time, the B.C. government is dedicating $1.1 billion to boost the income of people affected by COVID-19.

A new B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers will provide a tax-free $1,000 payment to British Columbians whose ability to work has been affected by the outbreak. The benefit will be a one-time payment for British Columbians who receive federal Employment Insurance (EI), or the new federal Emergency Care Benefit or Emergency Support Benefit as a result of COVID-19 impacts. This includes workers who have been laid-off, who are sick or quarantined, parents with sick children, parents who stay at home from work while child care centres and schools are closed, and those caring for sick family members, such as an elderly parent. The workers can be EI-eligible and non-EI eligible, such as the self-employed. The benefit will be paid to B.C. residents, in addition to their federal income supports.

The COVID-19 Action Plan takes further steps to boost income supports by increasing and expanding the B.C. Climate Action Tax Credit in July 2020. As many as 86% of British Columbians will see some extra money from this enhancement. Eligible families of four will receive up to $564 and eligible individuals will receive up to $218 in an enhanced payment. This boosts the regular climate action tax credit payment of up to $112.50 per family of four and up to $43.50 per adult.

Together, the B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers and the enhanced B.C. Climate Action Tax Credit will complement federal income supports and help people who are struggling with job loss, reduced income or increased costs through the immediate crisis.

The Province is focused on keeping people safe, healthy and supported throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. To support that work, the action plan provides $1.7 billion for the critical services British Columbians need.

The $1.7 billion includes investments in housing and shelter supports, income and disability assistance programs and crucial health services, such as funding for the BC Centre for Disease Control hotline, quarantine costs, lab tests and work underway at the First Nations Health Authority and the United Way’s Better at Home program for seniors.

To support non-profits, service delivery agencies and child care providers, the Province will continue to provide funding even if these agencies are closed or their regular operations have been disrupted. Licensed child care providers staying open will receive enhanced funding to keep operations going. These centres are eligible to receive seven times their average monthly operating funding from government, which is expected to cover approximately 75% of a group facility's average monthly operating expenses.

To help people with B.C. student loans, the Province is freezing B.C. student loan payments for six months, starting March 30, 2020. Federal student loan payments are being frozen as well.

British Columbians needing more time to pay their bills can also apply to existing payment deferral programs at ICBC and BC Hydro. ICBC is extending deferrals to up to 90 days. People dealing with job loss, illness or loss of wages due to COVID-19 may also qualify for BC Hydro’s Customer Crisis Fund grant program for up to $600.

Supporting businesses


British Columbia has a strong economic foundation, but COVID-19 is having impacts across the country and around the world. Every aspect of B.C.’s economy will be touched by this pandemic. The COVID-19 Action Plan will help businesses get through the immediate crisis and lay the groundwork needed to get businesses back on their feet once the crisis is over.

Effective immediately, businesses with a payroll over $500,000 can defer their employer health tax payments until Sept. 30, 2020. Businesses with a payroll under this threshold are already exempt from the tax.

In addition to the employer health tax, the Province is extending tax filing and payment deadlines for the provincial sales tax (PST), municipal and regional district tax on short-term accommodation, tobacco tax, motor fuel tax and carbon tax until Sept. 30, 2020. The scheduled April 1 increase to the provincial carbon tax, as well as the new PST registration requirements on e-commerce and the implementation of PST on sweetened carbonated drinks, will be delayed and their timing will be reviewed by Sept. 30, 2020.

Business and light- and major-industry property classes will see their school tax cut in half. This will provide $500 million in immediate relief for business that own their property and allow commercial landlords to immediately pass savings on to their tenants in triple-net leases.

In the longer term, the recovery plan will dedicate funding to particularly hard-hit parts of the economy, such as the tourism, hospitality and culture sectors. The B.C. government is partnering with business and labour leaders to build an economic stimulus plan. The Province has allocated $1.5 billion for economic recovery.

Learn More:


For information on B.C.’s COVID Action Plan and other government resources and updates, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/covid19;

To learn more about Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html;

For non-medical information relating to COVID-19, call 1 888 COVID-19;

For more information on how B.C.'s COVID-19 Action Plan helps people and businesses, visit: http://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/bc-takes-steps-to-support-people-businesses-during-covid-19-pandemic.


(Followed in Chinese)


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世界疫情更新

截止太平洋时间2020年3月25日下午3时,加拿大累计确诊病例3409例,死亡35例,已康复195例,疑似833例。卑诗省累计确诊659 例,今日新增42例,累计死亡14例。

Dr. Bonnie Henry was addressing the media on March 25, 2020 卑诗省首席卫生官在做每日疫情更新
Dr. Bonnie Henry was addressing the media on March 25, 2020 卑诗省首席卫生官在做每日疫情更新

世界卫生组织网站显示,全球累计确诊414 179 例(新增40 712例),死亡18 440 例 (新增2202例)。

西太平洋地区Western Pacific Region 累计确诊97 766 例(新增1186),死亡3518 例 (新增16例)。

欧洲European Region,累计确诊220 516 例 (新增25 007);死亡11 986 例 (新增1797例)。

东南亚地区South-East Asia Region,累计确诊2344 例 (新增354);累计死亡72 例 (新增7例)。

中东地区Eastern Mediterranean Region累计确诊29 631 例 (新增2416);累计死亡2008 例 (新增131例)。

美洲Region of the Americas累计确诊60 834 例 (新增11 390例);累计死亡813 (新增248例)。

非洲African Region累计确诊1664 例 (新增359例);

累计死亡29 例 (新增3例)。

英国王室发表声明,今年71岁的查尔斯王子新型冠状病毒检测呈“阳性”, 有轻微症状,此外健康状况良好;查尔斯王子夫人、72岁的康沃尔公爵夫人也接受了检测,但没有感被染;下个月年满94岁的英国女王,以及她98岁的丈夫爱丁堡公爵均身体健康。

加拿大联邦卫生部长哈杜 (Patty Hajdu) 3月25日宣布,所有返回加拿大除了“必要人员”的旅客,从今天午夜开始必须强制隔离14天,以帮助减缓新冠肺炎疫情的扩散。

副总理方慧兰 (Chrystia Freeland) 也表示,从今天午夜开始,官员们将开始在边境留下联系方式,以跟进回国旅客。有关《隔离法》的详细信息将于今天晚些时候公布。


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卑诗省支援房客和房东共渡新馆疫情难关


暖心!引用:

“新冠疫情导致失业和工资减少,许多租户担心他们无法支付租金;对于房东来说,这也是一个充满挑战的时刻;不希望任何人因为新冠疫情而失去家园,我们的计划将为租房者和房东提供急需的经济支援;它还将为租房者提供更多的安全保障,保障他们能够留在家中而不必担心在紧急情况下被驱逐或增加房租。”

--卑诗省省长约翰·霍根 (John Horgan)

为了支持省民、有效防止新冠状病毒的传播,卑诗省正在采取新的临时租金补贴措施,包括停止驱逐、冻结租金上涨等措施。

“人们感到非常恐惧和焦虑,他们不能居无定所。我们的政府正在采取措施,以减轻房客和房东的一些压力,并保护人们的健康。”市政事务和住房部长Selina Robinson说, “我们正在帮助租房者支付租金,让他们放心,他们在这个前所未有的困难时期拥有一个稳定的居所,同时确保房东有一些租金收入来维持他们的生活。”

负责省房屋租赁工作的温哥华西区国会议员钱德拉·赫伯特(Spencer Chandra Herbert),在广泛听取租户和房东意见和建议的基础上,提出了新冠病毒大流行期间满足房东和租户需求的行动计划的建议。他表示:“在共同努力应对疫情的时候,我们不能将任何人抛在后面,所以我提出了此项建议,以解决尽了全力的房东和租户在当前困难时期的紧迫问题。”

卑诗省正在实施一系列的措施,以保持省民的住房并保护他们的健康。立即执行的完整清单包括:

  • 新的临时租金补助每月最多500元,直接支付给房东;

  • 通过确保房东不发布新的出于任何原因的终止租约通知来停止驱逐租客。但是,在可能需要保护健康、安全或防止财产受到不适当的损害的特殊情况下,房东将能够向住宅租赁处申请听证;

  • 除非在出于安全考虑的极端情况下,停止执行住宅租赁处发布的现有驱逐通知。法院下令驱逐较少人数的租客,法院独立于政府决定;

  • 在此紧急状态下,冻结新的一年一度的租金增长;

  • 除非在需要保护健康、安全或防止对出租房造成不适当的损害的紧急情况下,防止房东未经租户同意进入出租房(例如,看房或进行日常维护);

  • 租户和房东可以使用限制方式来发送通知,以减少潜在的病毒传播机会(不见面和允许发送电子邮件);

  • 允许房东限制租户或客人使用公共区域,以有效防止新冠病毒的传播。

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50亿新型冠状病毒应急计划:

卑诗省支持省民和企业的第一步

受新型冠状病毒 (COVID-19) 大流行影响,卑诗省民将会获得50亿元的援助,省民、企业和服务行业除了在收入和税务方面获得缓解,更会得到直接拨款资助。

省长贺谨 (John Horgan) 2020年3月23日表示:“新型冠状病毒大流行损害我们的健康、经济和生活方式,省民和企业均急需援助。我们的行动计划主要是保障省民的健康和安全,给省民和企业解决燃眉之急,并订立长远计划帮助卑诗省经济复兴。”

新型冠状病毒应急计划 (COVID-19 Action Plan) 是省府舒缓省民和企业困境的第一步。计划中的28亿元拨款将用于资助各项服务,协助省民渡过这危机,另外的22亿元则支援企业,协助他们在疫情后逐步复原。

在联邦政府的新型冠状病毒经济措施支援下,卑诗省订立这项新型冠状病毒应急计划,为担忧生活开支和拖欠债务的省民舒缓解困。

协助省民,继续他们所倚赖的服务

这项计划包括一些即时措施,帮助卑诗省民和家庭克服潜在的病困、财务或失业困境。同时,这计划更注资在多项主要服务中,例如医疗、房屋和社会服务,确保省民得到支援及遏止冠状病毒蔓延。

财政厅长詹嘉路 (Carole James)说:“在这危机持续期间,我们要确保省民安全,而省民可继续获取基要服务。换言之,在这非常时期省民能留在家中保障自身的安全,但又能维持生活开支,供养家庭。“

拨出的28亿元是要确保省民在这困难时期获得所需服务和支持,其中11亿元是为受疫情影响的省民提供的收入资助。

新设立的卑诗雇员应急福利 (B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers) 将会为工作受疫情影响的省民,提供1千元的免税款项。凡因疫情受影响而接受联邦政府就业保险 (EI)、新设的联邦紧急护理福利 (federal Emergency Care Benefit) 或联邦应急支援津贴 (federal Emergency Support Benefit) 的省民,也会同时获得此项一次性补贴。受影响的雇员包括被裁、生病或隔离、照顾病童、因托儿中心和学校关闭或因照顾生病的家人如年长父母等等而需要在家工作的人士。无论雇员是否符合资格获取就业福利,又或者是自雇人士,均能获得此项资助。卑诗省民除了获得联邦的收入援助,亦可获得卑诗省政府的福利。

新型冠状病毒应急计划还将增加七月份的碳税退税额 (B.C. Climate Action Tax Credit) 范围,以增加省府对省民的收入支援。本省将有 86% 省民可获得收入资助。符合资格的四人家庭最多可获564元的资助,符合资格的个人则可获最多218元款额。一个四人家庭可获得最多达 112.5元的碳税退税款项,而每个成人则最多获43.5元的退税。

卑诗雇员应急福利连同卑诗碳税抵免计划,再配合联邦的收入资助,我们一同协助失业、收入减少或应付沉重生活费的省民,共渡难关。

卑诗省的焦点,是保障省民安全、健康,并在新冠肺炎大流行期间得到的支援。为此,省府的行动计划注资17亿元,为卑诗省民提供所需的重要服务。

这17亿元分别投入房屋及庇护所、收入及伤残津贴以及重要的医疗服务等,包括卑诗疾病控制中心热线、隔离病人所需费用、化验费用、原住民卫生局进展中的项目,以及United Way为长者提供的居家计划等等。

为了向非牟利机构、服务机关及日托中心提供支援,虽然这些机构或已关闭或没有如常经营,但我们仍继续为这些机构提供拨款。如常营业的持牌托儿机构,将会获得拨款资助以继续营业。这些中心现时能获得的资助,是平常每月平均资助的七倍,相信足以抵偿团体日托75% 的每月平均运作开支。

为了帮助卑诗学生应付借贷,省政府将由2020年3月30日起冻结卑诗学生还款六个月。联邦政府亦会冻结学生还款要求。

需要延长缴款时间的卑诗省民,可以向卑诗保险公司 (ICBC) 及卑诗水电公司 (BC Hydro) 申请延迟缴费 。ICBC 现时正把缴费延期增至最多90天。因冠状病毒而失业、患病或损失工资的人士,亦合资格向BC Hydro申请顾客危机基金计划 (Customer Crisis Fund),申请款项最高达600元。

支持企业

卑诗省的经济基础相当强健。然而,冠状病毒为本国甚至全球带来打击。本省经济的每一环都受到疫情影响。新型冠状病毒应急计划将会协助企业渡过时艰,并作好长远准备,待疫情一旦结束,企业便能复甦回稳。

由即时起,发薪超过500,000元的企业可延迟缴付雇主健康税,直至2020年9月30日。发薪少于该水平的企业毋须缴交该税项。

除了雇主健康税,省政府亦把省销售税 (PST)、市和地区税、烟草税、汽车燃油税及碳税等的报税和缴税时间延长至2020年9月30日。原订于4月1日调升省碳税、要求电子务登记省销售税,以及向对甜味碳酸饮料加征新税等均会延迟推行,于2020年9月30日审议新的推出日期。

企业、轻工业及主要工业的物业所缴付的学校税亦会减半。对于持有该类物业的企业而言,可即时舒缓5亿元,而商业业主可以因节省税款而即时减低租客的三重净租赁。

长线上,我们的复甦计划将拨款给受疫情重创的经济环节,例如旅游、酒店和文化等。卑诗政府现正与商界和劳工界领袖共同合作,订立刺激经济计划。本省已拨出15亿元以刺激经济复甦。

了解更多:

有关卑诗省的新型冠状病毒应急计划及其他政府资源,请上网到: www.gov.bc.ca/covid19;

有关加拿大的新型冠状病毒经济措施,请上网到:https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html;

有关新型冠状病毒的非医疗资讯,请致电:1 888 COVID-19;

如要了解卑诗省新型冠状病毒应急计划如何支援省民和企业,请上网到:

http://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/bc-takes-steps-to-support-people-businesses-duringcovid-19-pandemic.


(附中文繁体)

受新型冠狀病毒 (COVID-19) 大流行影響,卑詩省民將會獲得50億元的援助,省民、企業和服務行業除了在收入和稅務方面獲得緩解,更會得到直接撥款資助。

省長賀謹 (John Horgan) 2020年3月23日表示:「新型冠狀病毒大流行損害我們的健康、經濟和生活方式,省民和企業均急需援助。我們的行動計劃主要是保障省民的健康和安全,給省民和企業解決燃眉之急,並訂立長遠計劃幫助卑詩省經濟復甦。」

新型冠狀病毒應急計劃 (COVID-19 Action Plan) 是省府舒緩省民和企業困境的第一步。計劃中的28億元撥款將用於資助各項服務,協助省民渡過這危機,另外的22億元則支援企業,協助他們在疫情後逐步復原。

在聯邦政府的新型冠狀病毒經濟措施支援下,卑詩省訂立這項新型冠狀病毒應急計劃,為擔憂生活開支和拖欠債務的省民舒緩解困。

協助省民,繼續他們所倚賴的服務

這項計劃包括一些即時措施,幫助卑詩省民和家庭克服潛在的病困、財務或失業困境。同時,這計劃更注資在多項主要服務中,例如醫療、房屋和社會服務,確保省民得到支援及遏止冠狀病毒蔓延。

財政廳長詹嘉路說:「在這危機持續期間,我們要確保省民安全,而省民可繼續獲取基要服務。換言之,在這非常時期省民能留在家中保障自身的安全,但又能維持生活開支,供養家庭。」

撥出的28億元是要確保省民在這困難時期獲得所需服務和支持,其中11億元是為受疫情影響的省民提供收入資助。

新設立的卑詩僱員應急福利 (B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers) 將會為工作受疫情影響的省民,提供1千元的免稅款項。但凡因疫情受影響而接受聯邦政府就業保險 (EI)、新設的聯邦緊急護理福利 (federal Emergency Care Benefit) 或聯邦應急支援津貼(federal Emergency Support Benefit)的省民,亦會獲得一次過的補貼款項。受影響的僱員包括被裁、生病或隔離、照顧病童、因托兒中心和學校關閉或因照顧生病的家人如年長父母等等而需要在家工作的人士。無論僱員是否合資格獲取就業福利,又或者是自僱人士,均能獲得這資助。卑詩省民除了獲得聯邦的收入援助,亦可獲得卑詩省政府的福利。

新型冠狀病毒應急計劃更會拓濶七月份的碳稅扺免 (B.C. Climate Action Tax Credit) 範圍,以增加省府對省民的收入支援。本省將有 86% 省民可看到收入資助。合資格的四人家庭最多可獲564元的資助,合資格的個人則可獲最多218元款額。一個四人家庭可獲得最多達 112.5元的碳稅退稅款項,而每個成人則最多獲43.5元的退稅。

卑詩僱員應急福利連同卑詩碳稅抵免計劃,再配合聯邦的收入資助,我們一同協助失業、收入減少或應付沉重生活費的省民,渡過時艱。

卑詩省的焦點,是保障省民安全、健康,並在新冠肺炎大流行期間得到支援。為此,省府的行動計劃注資17億元,為卑詩省民提供所需的重要服務。

這17億元分別投入房屋及庇護所、收入及傷殘津貼以及重要的醫療服務等,包括卑詩疾病控制中心熱線、隔離病人所需費用、化驗費用、原住民衛生局進展中的項目,以及United Way為長者提供的居家計劃等等。

為了向非牟利機構、服務機關及日托中心提供支援,雖然這些機構或已關閉或沒有如常經營,但我們仍繼續為這些機構提供撥款。如常營業的持牌托兒機構,將會獲得撥款資助以繼續營業。這些中心現時能獲得的資助,是平常每月平均資助的七倍,相信足以抵償團體日托75% 的每月平均運作開支。

為了幫助卑詩學生應付借貸,省政府將由2020年3月30日起凍結卑詩學生還款六個月。聯邦政府亦會凍結學生還款要求。

需要延長繳款時間的卑詩省民,可以向卑詩保險公司(ICBC) 及卑詩水電公司(BC Hydro)申請延遲繳費 。ICBC 現時正把繳費延期增至最多90天。因冠狀病毒而失業、患病或損失工資的人士,亦合資格向BC Hydro申請顧客危機基金計劃(Customer Crisis Fund),申請款項最高達600元。

支持企業

卑詩省的經濟基礎相當強健。然而,冠狀病毒為本國甚至全球帶來打擊。本省經濟的每一環都受到疫情影響。新型冠狀病毒應急計劃將會協助企業渡過時艱,並作好長遠準備,待疫情一旦結束,企業便能復甦回穩。

由即時起,發薪超逾500,000元的企業可延遲繳付僱主健康稅,直至2020年9月30日。發薪少於該水平的企業毋須繳交該稅項。

除了僱主健康稅,省政府亦把省銷售稅(PST)、市和地區稅、煙草稅、汽車燃油稅及碳稅等的報稅和繳稅時間延長至2020年9月30日。原訂於4月1日調升省碳稅、要求電子商業登記省銷售稅,以及向汽水加徵新稅等均會延遲推行,於2020年9月30日審議新的推出日期。

企業、輕工業及主要工業的物業所繳付的學校稅亦會減半。對於持有該類物業的企業而言,可即時舒緩5億元,而商業業主可以因節省稅款而即時減低租客的三重凈租賃。

長線上,我們的復甦計劃將撥款給受疫情重創的經濟環節,例如旅遊、酒店和文化等。卑詩政府現正與商界和勞工界領袖共同合作,訂立刺激經濟計劃。本省已撥出15億元以刺激經濟復甦。

了解更多:

有關卑詩省的新型冠狀病毒應急計劃及其他政府資源,請上網到: www.gov.bc.ca/covid19;

有關加拿大的新型冠狀病毒經濟措施,請上網到:https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html;

有關新型冠狀病毒的非醫療資訊,請致電:1 888 COVID-19;

如要了解卑詩省新型冠狀病毒應急計劃如何支援省民和企業,請上網到:


4

加拿大国会通过1070亿新冠援助法案

继特鲁多夫人 Sophie Trudeau 确诊隔离以来,今天(2020年3月25日)是加拿大总理特鲁多 (Justin Trudeau) 自我隔离的最后一天(第14天),他照例在住所外面发表了每日全民讲话,说上周已有近100万人申请了失业疾病保险(EI),将确保尽快把这笔钱拿出来,准确可靠的送到需要的人手中。

加拿大政府和国会反对党于2020年3月25日通过了一项1070亿加元的一揽子援助法案,以帮助在新冠病毒大流行期间挣扎的加拿大人,这项立法将增加获得就业疾病保险 (EI) 和其他计划的资金,这些资金将会帮助需要的个人和企业。

参议院周三从财政部长比尔·莫诺(Bill Morneau)那里听到了消息,他描绘了加拿大经济状况的严峻局面 -- 表示当有成千上万的工人在此期间面临失业,国会必须批准一项计划,向有需要的加拿大人进行援助。

莫诺说,加拿大目前正遭受大量的失业,但是加拿大政府希望并期望这些损失只是暂时的。

根据这项援助法案,工人每月最多可或者2,000美元援助,最长可达4个月。

15岁以上、且在过去12个月内收入超过5000加元,但由于此次疫情而失去了收入来源的个人,都将符合这项资格,其中包括自雇和合同工,即使没有当前的就业保险(EI)计划,也可以享受此项援助福利(CERB)。

莫诺在回答参议员的问题时说,目前的局势“绝对是前所未有的”,政府需要确保新冠疫情大流行结束后,人们能否安居乐业。

援助计划由520亿加元的直接支持和550亿加元的递延税款两部分组成。特鲁多总理的最初提案大约为820亿美元,但现在增加至1070亿美元,因为即将到来的应急响应福利更加慷慨,并希望更多的人有资格享受到这项福利。

渥太华现在已经预算了520亿美元的直接支持付款和550亿美元的递延税款。

如今该法案已由下议院批准,即将由参议院在周三批准,随后的是王室批准。






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