By Canadian Press

Feds to partly cover ‘top ups’ for front-line workers on minimum wage

May 7, 2020 | 10:36 AM

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government, provinces and territories will spend $4 billion to increase the wages of essential workers in the COVID-19 pandemic.

He says the details are still to be finalized with some provinces.

But Trudeau says all the country’s first ministers agree that front-line workers who are risking their health and make minimum wage deserve a raise.

It will be up to each province to decide which workers count as “essential” and will get a top-up.

Trudeau says Canadians are relying on these workers now, more than ever, and all provinces and territories worked collaboratively to come to an agreement on how to better support them.

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The federal government will cover three-quarters of the cost of this program, with lower-tier governments kicking in the rest.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 7, 2020. 

The Canadian Press