The Prime Minister announced this morning the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy was being extended by 3 months. Justin Trudeau says the federal government has to make sure the emergency wage subsidy continues to work for employers so they can re-hire staff or even expand if possible. The PM also indicated that the government would revisit the 30% decline threshold saying “it shouldnt’ be a barrier to growth.”

However, no specific answer was given to the question about whether CERB, the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit, was going to be extended. His answer was that they wanted to see as many people as possible back on the payroll as businesses re-open.

Part of the Friday COVID-19 briefing was dedicated to announcing more benefits, this time for research institutes affected by the pandemic. The Prime MInister says many labs have closed or are at risk of immently closing. There will be 450 million dollars to help researchers bridge to better times and it will come as temporary support to wages supplied through federal granting agencies.

For parents who receive the Canada Child Benefit and those who receive the GST/HST credit, benefits will not be cut off if you miss filing your taxes by the new June 1st deadline. That from the Prime Minister during his daily COVID-19 briefing Friday.

Those benefits will continue until the end of September although Justin Trudeau does stress everyone should do their best to file their taxes in time for the new June 1st deadline. He also suggests it is important to file taxes as soon as you can so there is enough time for the paperwork to be processed in order to ensure you continue receiving these benefits beyond September.

This is normally prime time for students looking for summer jobs. The Prime Minister, said the first set of summer jobs are up on the job bank website. However, Justin Trudeau acknowledges there are fewer jobs because of the pandemic so for students and recent graduates, you can apply today for the Canada Emergency Student Benefit.

For the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) click here.

For the Job Bank click here.

Expanded Eligibility

• Registered journalism organizations
• All registered Canadian amateur athletic associations (including Hockey Canada)
• Tax exempt Indigenous owned corporations and partnerships, that include Indigenous governments and eligible employers
• Non-public colleges including driving schools, language schools and art schools
• The wage subsidy will also be available to partnerships with non-eligible members, as long as those members are not majority owners