UPDATE 12 noon – An emergency bill to inject billions of dollars of aid into the Canadian economy affected by COVID-19 has passed the Senate is now law.

Gov. Gen. Julie Payette signed the bill after both the House of Commons and Senate both issued speedy approvals earlier in the day.

UPDATE 11 a.m. – An emergency bill to inject billions of dollars of aid into the Canadian economy affected by COVID-19 has passed the Senate and now awaits royal assent.

The Senate passed the bill after two hours of discussion and debate.

The bill includes a $2,000 a month payment for up to four months, which will increase the cost of the aid package from $27 billion in direct support to $52 billion. That is in addition to $55 billion in deferred tax payments for business and individuals.

The bill is expected to get royal assent this afternoon.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau said the benefits for workers are expected to come in the first week of April, with the top-ups for child benefits and GST cheques will flow in May.

ORIGINAL – Emergency legislation to free up $82-billion to help businesses, families, and workers get through the COVID-19 crisis is on its way to the Senate.

The bill proposed by the Federal Government, will boost employment insurance and send hundreds of millions of additional dollars to the provinces for health care. It passed the House of Commons after a day of tense negotiations yesterday, with a handful of MP’s present in Ottawa.

The delay was a result of the Conservatives raising objections to what they dubbed a Liberal ‘power grab’ after provisions in the bill proposed giving the government sweeping powers to unilaterally spend, borrow, and change taxation levels without Parliament’s approval until December 2021.

As part of the new bill, Cabinet ministers will still be allowed to spend any amount of money needed in a public health emergency, however, that new power will expire on Sept. 30.

On Tuesday, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said his party would support emergency efforts to get money to Canadians struggling because of COVID-19 crisis, but would oppose any attempts by the Liberal government to expand its power.

“Any conversation about new government powers should not get in the way of passing this much-needed assistance,” Scheer said. “Canadians are counting on us.”

The government is hoping the bill will pass in the Senate this afternoon and the money will start to flow soon. The Senate is expected to rise around 12 noon B.C. time, once the legislation receives royal assent.

The bill includes the following:

• A temporary boost to Canada Child Benefit payments, delivering about $2 billion in extra support.
• A new Emergency Care Benefit of up to $900 biweekly, for up to 15 weeks, to provide income support to workers, including the self-employed, who have to stay home and don’t qualify for paid sick leave or employment insurance. The measure means up to $10 billion could be disbursed.
• A new Emergency Support Benefit to provide up to $5 billion in support to workers who are not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment.
• A six-month, interest-free reprieve on student loan payments.
• A doubling of the homeless care program.
• An extension of the tax filing deadline to June 1. There is also a policy change allowing taxpayers to defer until after Aug. 31 tax payments that are due after today and before September.
• $305 million for a new Indigenous Community Support Fund to address immediate needs in First Nations, Inuit and, Métis Nation communities.

Liberals rejig benefits for workers affected by COVID-19

Meanwhile, the federal government is repackaging two previously promised benefits for Canadians whose working lives are disrupted by COVID-19.

The Liberals say there will now be one benefit which will provide 16 weeks of payments to workers whose income drops to zero because of the pandemic.

Speaking in the Senate, Finance Minister Bill Morneau told senators that the move should help get money to affected workers faster than under the previously announced model.

When the Liberals unveiled their response package, they proposed two benefits – one to flow through the employment insurance system and another for those who don’t qualify for EI benefits, such as being self-employed workers.

The new, combined benefit is expected to roll out on April 6.

– With files from the Canadian Press