Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Thursday that the federal government will be providing $4 billion to top-up the wages of essential workers across Canada.
Trudeau says a deal to boost essential workers’ wages has been reached with provinces and territories, and is currently finalizing the details with the last provinces — and that this has been a ‘truly collaborative effort.’
Individual provinces and territories will decide how the money gets spent, but it is meant to help people who are risking their health by working during the COVID-19 pandemic at minimum wage.
“The bottom line is this: If you are risking your health to keep this country moving and you are making minimum wage – you deserve a raise,” Trudeau said during his daily address Thursday morning.
The Prime Minister has stated that the federal government will cover three-quarters of top-up cost, and individual provinces will cover the remaining one-quarter. More details will be released once they are worked out with each province and territory.
Trudeau initially announced the essential worker pay top-up in mid-April.
In B.C., minimum wage is currently $13.85 per hour, and will be increased to $14.60 on June 1st.
See all the latest updates about the global COVID-19 pandemic on Vancouver Island
The BCCDC has set up a 2019 novel coronavirus telephone information line at 1-833-784-4397 for those who have further questions about this disease.
Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
The Province has also created the 1-888-COVID-19 line to connect British Columbians needing non-medical information about the coronavirus pandemic.
As of the time of publication, the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide has risen to 3,859,483.
Over 266,900 people have died from the illness and 1,320,963 have made a full recovery.
