JAMES MALONEY, MP

Photo: Jennifer Hartley

JAMES MALONEY

Member of Parliament Etobicoke-Lakeshore

We are almost there. From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada made a commitment to protect the health and safety of all Canadians. That is why we worked hard to ensure that everyone across the country could access vaccines as soon as they were proven to be safe and effective. In mid-July, we reached our goal — receiving enough COVID-19 vaccines to fully vaccinate every eligible person in the country – two months ahead of the original goal of September. This milestone in the largest immunization campaign in Canada’s history is the result of a proactive procurement approach, focused on building a diverse vaccine portfolio. Canada continues to be a world leader in vaccination rates, with well over 80 per cent of eligible people in the country vaccinated with their first dose and approximately 64 per cent fully vaccinated (at press time).

We are building back stronger. However, there are Canadians who still need a helping hand. That is why the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland and Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability inclusion, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough announced the extension of crucial COVID-19 support measures for Canadians and Canadian businesses.

These extensions include:

• Extending of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy and Lockdown Support until October 23, 2021, and increasing the rate of support employers and organizations can receive during the period between August 29 and September 25, 2021. • Extending the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB), and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) until October 23, 2021.

• Increasing the maximum number of weeks available for the CRB, by an additional 4 weeks, to a total of 54 weeks, at a rate of $300 per week, and ensuring it is available to those who have exhausted their employment insurance benefits.

Our recovery is underway, but continues to be uneven. Workers and businesses continue to need their supports, which have been lifelines through the pandemic. By moving forward on these extensions, we are supporting people and ensuring that businesses— including those in hard-hit sectors like tourism, hospitality, arts, and entertainment— important to our economy in Etobicoke-Lakeshore ---can continue to get the support they need so they can invest in their recovery and long-term prosperity.

Our government will continue to be there for Canadians and make sure that all workers and businesses are well positioned to come roaring back.

Be sure to protect yourself and others by getting the vaccine. Find out where by visiting, https:// www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/.

Stay safe everyone.