For 150 years, this Labour Council and our movement have been guided by the principle of “what we desire for ourselves, we wish for all.” There will be many political decisions to make in the coming days and months. But for now, we hope that all of you can stay safe, take time to care for your loved ones, and find the opportunity to help others in your community who need support.
Key Links and Resources for Individuals
Stay informed and follow the advice of our public health experts. Access the most up-to-date information through the following links:
All three orders of government have taken extraordinary measures to ensure individuals have access to the supports they need to make the best health decisions possible. Some of these include:
- Improved access to EI sickness benefits for anyone placed in quarantine due to COVID-19 (Employment and Social Development Canada)
- New, emergency benefits for individuals who are not eligible for EI, including self-employed, contract, and gig economy workers, to be available in early April (read the March 18 backgrounder)
- A federal announcement of direct aid to individuals, including increased Canada Child Benefit, a GST benefit for low-income households, 6 months of interest-free student loan deferral, and more (until official links are available, find a summary in The Star)
- The Province of Ontario has ordered a halt to evictions and existing eviction orders, as of March 16 (until official links are available, see details in The Star)
- The City of Toronto has announced a series of economic support and recovery measures as of March 16. These include lenience for property tax payments and utility bills as well as assistance accessing EI. (found here)
