This letter was first sent as an email to our constituents. To receive regular updates from our office regarding COVID-19, sign up via the "Get Updates" tab.

New Measures to Support Workers, Students, and Businesses

Dear Neighbour, 

This week is Paramedic Services Week and is a time for us to celebrate and thank these exceptional frontline workers for their service and sacrifice, especially in the face of COVID-19. 

I hope you, your family and friends are keeping well and staying safe and continuing to adhere to all public health requirements and the advice of our provincial government as our province continues its incremental restart plan.

This email contains updates on: 

• The Canada Child Benefit
• The Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance
• Business Resilience Service 
• Additional support for Indigenous peoples
• Support for the Canadian Red Cross 
• Support for Research Staff in Canada 
• Support for Canada’s fish harvesters 
• New online tool to help Canadians find financial help during COVID-19

Annual Increase to the Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

Last week our Prime Minister announced that the Canada Child Benefit will be increased again in July which will be in place for the 2020-21 benefit yet. The increase will raise the maximum benefit to $6,765 per child under age 6, and $5,708 per child aged 6 through 17.

On May 20, families currently receiving the CCB received an additional $300 per child with their May payment.

The Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance is Now Open for Applications (CECRA)

Starting on May 25, eligible property owners in Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam can now apply for the CECRA which offers unsecured, forgivable loans to eligible commercial property owners to reduce rent for their impacted small business tenants and meet operating expenses on commercial properties. 

In order to manage volume, applicants are asked to apply in a staggered manner based on your province or territory. For property owners in British Columbia with up to 10 eligible tenants, Mondays are the best day to apply while all other property owners in B.C. should apply on Thursday. 

Business Resilience Network 

The Business Resilience Network (BRS) allows you to connect with experienced business advisors from all over Canada and receive guidance on which government relief programs will be most appropriate to support your small-to-medium-sized business  

The BRS program comes free of charges and can provide:

• Guidance on COVID-19 financial support programs and eligibility
• Directions on how to access the most appropriate support organizations 
• Help to make decisions to support recover plans 
• Real time insights and feedback to policymakers 

For more information visit: https://www.canadianbusinessresiliencenetwork.ca/brs/

To access the BRS call 1-866-989-1080 to be connected with a business advisor from the accounting profession

The BRS is available 7 days/week from 5am-5pm PST

Additional support for Indigenous peoples living in urban centres and off reserve 

Our government has announced $75 million in funding for Indigenous organizations who are providing services to Indigenous peoples in urban centres and off reserve 

This funding will support community-based projects addressing crucial needs of Indigenous populations during these challenging times, which include: 

• Food security 
• Mental health support services
• Sanitation and protective equipment 
• Other needs as identified 

Support for the Canadian Red Cross 

On May 16^th our government committed up to $100 million in funding to help the Red Cross face increased demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and well as supporting future floods and wildlife relief efforts 

The funding will include up to $41 million to address urgent needs, with over $15 million in order to enhance response capacity and $25 million to support public health efforts 

This funding will allow the Red Cross to: 

• Recruit and train volunteers and staff
• Adapt operations to COVID-19 needs 
• Support quarantine and isolation sites
• Acquire personal protective equipment for its personnel and volunteers
• Provide training to the health care sector and other essential workers on using personal protective equipment, and maintain infection prevention and control measures within facilities 
• Expand their roster of public health and infection prevention and control specialists 
• Procure and deploy, as needed, emergency health supplies and equipment including a mobile field hospital, to prepare for future waves and outbreaks of COVID-19
• Additionally, up to $59 million of the funding will be available to support additional relief and recovery this year for COVID-19 and for future floods and wildfires. 

Support for Research Staff in Canada

Our government is investing $450 million in funding to assist academic research in Canada during the COVid-19 pandemic. 

This funding will: 

• Provide wage supports to universities and health research institutes to enable them to retain research staff funded from industry or philanthropic sources and are unable to access existing Federal supports. We will provide up to 75% per individual, with a maximum of $847 per week
• Support universities and health research institutes to maintain essential research-related activities during these uncertain times and return to pre-crisis research operations once physical distancing measures have been lifted

Support for Canada’s Fish Harvesters 

• Launching the Fish Harvest Benefit to provide income support for the 2020 fishing season to eligible self-employed fish harvesters and sharespersons crew who are not able to access the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy
  • Support will be granted to fish harvesters experiencing fishing income decline of greater than 25T in the 2020 tax year, compared with a reference period to be identified 
  • This measure will cover 75% of fishing income losses beyond a 25% income decline threshold, up to a maximum individual entitlement equivalent to what is provided under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy ($847 per week for up to 12 weeks) 
• Launch the Fish Harvester Grant to provide grants to help fish harvesters impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak who are not eligible for the Canada Emergency Business Account. 
  • The grant will give more liquidity to address non-deferable business costs and provide non-repayable support of up to $10,000 to self-employed fish harvesters with a valid fishing licence  
• Propose measures/changes to Employment Insurance (EI) to allow self-employed fish harvesters and sharespersons to access EI benefits on the basis of insurable earnings from previous seasons (winter and summer claims)

 More information will be provided as it becomes available 

New online tool to help Canadians find financial help during COVID-19

Our government has launched a new online tool to help Canadians find financial help during COVID-19 and point you to the program details you are inquiring about.

This is a great resource to help connect you to the support you or our business is looking for. 

My team and I continue to work hard every day to respond to the needs and concerns of our community. We are still dealing with a high volume of urgent requests but are committed to responding to every constituent. 

We are also focused on ensuring that everyone has the most up-to-date information and that it is accessible. For daily updates, follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or visit my website.

Yours sincerely,

Ron McKinnon

Member of Parliament for Coquitlam - Port Coquitlam