A message from Bruce Grey Owen Sound MP Alex Ruff

Alex Ruff, Member of Parliament for Bruce – Grey – Owen Sound issued the following statement on federal government support as a result of COVID-19: 
 
The government’s response plan and updates can be found here:  www.canada.ca/coronavirus.  
 
The federal government has announced several initial measures to support Canadians. Some key initiatives include that the Government is waiving the one-week waiting period for Employment Insurance (EI) for those individuals in imposed quarantine that claim EI sickness benefits. They also introduced the Emergency Care Benefit, providing up to $900 bi-weekly, for up to 15 weeks. This flat-payment benefit will be administered through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and provide income support. Applications for the benefit will be available in April 2020.  
 
For Canadians who lose their jobs or face reduced hours as a result of COVID’s impact, the Government is introducing an Emergency Support Benefit delivered through the CRA to provide up to $5.0 billion in support to workers who are not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment. Many of these benefits are not fully in effect yet. The Government aims to have them in place in early April. You will be able to apply through your CRA account or My Service Canada account.

Full detailed and updated information can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/departmentfinance/news/2020/03/canadas-covid-19-economic-response-plan-support-for-canadians-andbusinesses.html. 
 
“The federal Government will be introducing new legislation this week. The opposition parties are committed to supporting these programmes as announced last week as quickly as possible. Please reach out to the constituency office at 519-371-1059 or email Alex.Ruff@parl.gc.ca should you need our assistance. Stay safe and stay healthy.”  
 
Contacts of Importance 
 
Coronavirus Hotline Phone: 1-833-784-4397 
 
Public Health Ontario Telehealth Ontario Phone: 1-866-797-0000 or 
Grey Bruce Health Unit at 519-376-9420 if you’re experiencing symptoms of the 2019 novel coronavirus.  *Please do not call 911 unless it is an emergency.* 
 
Airlines Air Canada: 1-888-247-2262 WestJet: 1-888-937-8538 Porter Airlines: 1-888-619-8622  Air Transat: 1-877-872-6728 Sunwing: 1-877-789-9464   
 
Consular Services Information Embassies: https://travel.gc.ca/assistance/embassies-consulates (by country)  
 
If you or a loved one are travelling outside Canada at this time register as being a Canadian abroad: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration 
 
Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa:  If you have an urgent need: 1-613-996-8885 (collect calls are accepted where available)  
 
Email: sos@international.gc.ca 
 
Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) Phone: 1-877-232-2269 
 
The Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) will allow the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC) to provide more than $10 billion of additional support, largely targeted to small and medium-sized businesses. 
 
Employment Insurance  Phone: 1-833-381-2725