By Canadian Press

Trudeau to announce funding to deal with increasing number of COVID-19 cases

Mar 11, 2020 | 1:07 AM

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans today to announce federal funding to help provincial health-care systems cope with the increasing number of new coronavirus cases and to help Canadian workers who are forced to isolate themselves.

Business and labour groups say they want the federal government to loosen restrictions on employment insurance payments for people who are off work due to illness.

This would also make it easier for people with more precarious jobs to stay home and avoid infecting others.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau said Monday that the government was “looking at taking some initiatives this week” to help workers, employers and provincial health systems.

There are few confirmed instances of community transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19 in Canada, but the number of cases continues to grow.

Close call

'Incredibly fortunate somebody heard him:' local water taxi operator rescues capsized boater off Nanoose Bay

3h ago

pushing for an election

Poilievre makes case for taking down the government to restore 'promise of Canada'

5h ago

massive bust

Kilograms of illicit drugs, guns and money seized by Nanaimo police after OPS arrests

8h ago

So far, there have been 94 confirmed cases of the illness in Canada.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020

The Canadian Press