UPDATE: 

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-Canadians who need the help can start applying for emergency income support today.
-The CERB will give people who lose all their income because of the Covid crisis about 2-thousand dollars a month for 16 weeks. Those who are eligible for EI can apply for that coverage, although not at the same time.    If someone had a job and made $5000 over and above their CPP/OAS/GIS benefits or pension in the past year, and they have stopped working due to COVID-19 reasons, they are eligible for the CERB.

https://www.canada.ca/en.html

You can apply for the CERB right now, but the Prime Minister is asking people to apply based on their birth month, so the system doesn’t crash:

“We are working very hard to ensure that our systems are robust enough to handle the unprecedented demand.  There have been discussions around different ways of ensuring that the system isn’t overloaded.  And we will continue to keep Canadians apprised of that.”

If you were born January to March: apply today. April to June: tomorrow, July to September on Wednesday, and October to December: Thursday.

Canadians looking to get more information about the CERB or, who are unable to apply online, can call the toll-free telephone line at 1-833-966-2099.

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Canadians who have already applied for EI do not need to reapply. To date, over 1.2 million of the EI applications received since March 15, 2020 have been processed through the new CERB.

The feds say you should receive the first payment after applying, within three to five days provided you’re signed up for direct deposit.  If you’re getting the cheque by mail, it’ll take about 10 days.

Quick Facts

• The CERB will support Canadians who have stopped working because of COVID-19 by providing $500 a week for up to 16 weeks. Some examples of support to workers provided by the CERB include:
• • workers, including those who are self-employed, who must stop working due to COVID-19 and do not have access to paid leave or other income support;
  • workers who have lost their employment, as well as workers who are sick, quarantined or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19;
  • working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children who are sick or need additional care because of school and daycare closures; and
  • workers who are still employed, but are not being paid because there is currently not sufficient work and their employer has asked them not to come to work.

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-The Metis Nation of Alberta is going to split 1.2-million dollars between its regions, so local councils can help those in need with things like child care and rent:

Citizens, Families and Seniors Direct Support Program
The MNA has committed an initial $1.2 million with $200,000 going to each of the MNA’s six Regions who will work in collaboration with their Regional Councils that include MNA Locals. This funding will allow each MNA Region to provide direct and immediate funding support to Métis Nation citizens and families in need. This program will allow each MNA Region the flexibility to allocate funds where Métis citizens, families and Seniors identify they need support, including direct financial and other supports. Métis citizens should contact their MNA Region directly with respect to this program.

Emergency Child Wellness Benefit Program
This program is designed for Métis Nation families with children who are newborns or up to 12 years of age who have been impacted by school and daycare closures due to COVID-19.  The program will provide Métis families a maximum of $500 per eligible child, to a maximum total payment of $2,500 per household, over three months to support child wellness. This program will run from April through June 2020 and offers one-time emergency funding in response to COVID-19. Métis citizens should contact the MNA Provincial Office at 1-800-252-7553 or 780-455-2200, email cwb@metis.org or visit www.albertametis.com.

Emergency Rent Supplement Program
While some major lending institutions are providing mortgage payment holidays for those impacted by COVID-19, currently there are no such relief plans for Métis Nation citizens who are renting. This program, offered in partnership between the MNA and Métis Capital Housing Corporation, offers rental relief payments of $1000 per month for three months to provide financial relief to Métis Nation renters who are directly impacted by this pandemic. This program will be administered until funds are no longer available, and will be on a first come, first served basis. Métis citizens should contact the Métis Capital Housing Corporation at 1-877-458-8684 or email emergencysupport@metishousing.ca. You can also visit www.metishousing.ca.

Benevolent Fund Top Up
For many years, the MNA has offered financial support to Métis Nation citizens who have lost family members. During this unprecedented pandemic, the existing Benevolent Fund is being increased to $500 per applicant. If families have lost members to COVID-19 and wish to apply for support funding, they can do so through the existing Benevolent Fund. Métis citizens should contact the MNA Provincial Office with respect to this program at 1-800-252-7553 or 780-455-2200 or visit www.albertametis.com.

The Interim COVID-19 Support Plan will be financially supported by the MNA, its affiliates and Canada’s commitment of $7.5 million to the MNA through the COVID-19 Indigenous Community Support Fund.  Currently, the MNA is awaiting receipt of these funds from Canada. In this interim period, the MNA and its affiliates will be flowing cash to components of the plan in order to meet immediate needs. The MNA will also be asking the Alberta Government to contribute to the MNA’s plan.

In a coordinated effort with the MNA, Rupertsland Institute (RLI) has established a Community Emergency Support Program (CESP) to provide $75,000 to each MNA Region to assist in the development of community-based responses to COVID-19 for three months. CESP is intended to provide immediate support during the pandemic and each MNA Regional Council will determine how to disperse funds among its respective Locals and citizens. RLI is also working in partnership with schools to provide Chromebook devices to Métis students to participate in Alberta’s virtual K to12 classrooms. Visit rupertsland.org for more information on the CESP.

All of the programs identified in the Interim COVID-19 Support Plan are available to the MNA’s more than 43,000 registered citizens, including their family members who may not yet be registered with the MNA as well as all Métis Nation citizens living in Alberta who self-identify as such and provide objectively verifiable documentation establishing that they are citizens of the Métis Nation. These eligibility requirements will be applied flexibly at this time of crisis to ensure those in need receive the supports they require, while also ensuring that this limited Métis-specific funding is accessed by individual Métis Nation citizens and families living in Alberta.

“During this time of crisis, we want to ensure no Métis Nation citizen or family in Alberta is left behind,” said MNA Vice-President Dan Cardinal. “Our plan is about directly investing in and supporting Métis people and families. It is responsive, preliminary and adaptable based on what we hear from Métis Nation citizens over the weeks to come and how this pandemic evolves.”

As COVID-19 continues to impact all of Alberta, the MNA is monitoring and will work with all relevant parties to provide updates to programming and funding as needed. For more information about COVID-19 and the MNA’s Interim COVID-19 Support Plan visit albertametis.com. Métis citizens requiring assistance or who have suggestions about the MNA’s evolving COVID-19 plan, can email emergencysupport@metis.org.

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-12-hundred and 50 Albertans have now been diagnosed with Covid-19, while 23 people have died.  Given that the Easter weekend is coming up, everyone is reminded to adhere to health protocols and not have gatherings outside their immediate household.  For everyone else, go online, as many places of worship are now conducting services this way.

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-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to the hospital as a precaution because he still has symptoms of Covid-19, ten days after he tested positive. He’s been quarantined since that time.