The Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo Member of Parliament says her constituency office is fielding more calls than ever because of COVID-19.

Cathy McLeod says nearly a month after the World Health Organization declared the virus a pandemic, many are still trying to get home.

“I think what we’re having is travellers, we still have people in challenging circumstances,” she said. “Whether that’s in Peru, whether that’s in India. And we’re still fielding calls from people, even, in the U.S., in terms of what’s going to happen for them.”

McLeod says many people are calling to ask about applying for EI or the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).

“EI and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit are very big volumes [of calls], in terms of should people be applying to EI,” McLeod added. “And I’d say if you qualify for EI, apply for EI. And this Emergency Response Benefit is for those who are impacted but do not qualify for EI. So that’s important.”

She says if people qualify for EI that’s what they should be applying for, saying the emergency benefit is for people who do not qualify for EI.

Speaking to NL News, McLeod says many business owners have also been reaching out.

“I know many of the business owners are waiting, in terms of what this support for small business is going to look like,” she said. “But again, I know many of the businesses throughout our area are challenged, especially with rents becoming due. Difficult times, difficult issues with cash flow.”

Applications for the Emergency Response Benefit began today for people born in January, February, and March and have lost work due to COVID19. Those born in other months can apply later this week.

Trudeau says 240,000 people have already successfully applied for this funding in the first few hours after the process opened this morning.

For people who have reduced hours because of COVID-19 and are not eligible for CERB, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Ottawa is working on it.

McLeod says for the latest information, people should head online as the situation changes frequently because of the evolving nature of the crisis.

It should be noted that due to emergent/urgent nature of this crisis there are frequent changes to program design and advice Please use https://t.co/TCSXyhaTaO for most up to date interpretation. https://t.co/id4oFXgamY

— Cathy McLeod MP (@Cathy_McLeod) April 6, 2020

– With files from Victor Kaisar