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.
1
Ottawa's $107 Billion COVID-19 Aid Package Passed by Parliament
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.
2
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
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.
3
$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)
1
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。
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。
2
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。
3
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。“