We made temporary changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) program to better support Canadians who need financial assistance. As of September 27, 2020, the minimum benefit rate is $500 per week before taxes in most cases.
If you are not eligible for EI, you may be eligible for the new benefits:
The CRB provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks for workers who have stopped working or had their income reduced by at least 50% due to COVID-19, and who are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI).
The CRSB provides $500 per week for up to a maximum of two weeks, for workers who:
The CRCB provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household for workers:
Homeowners facing financial hardship may be eligible for a mortgage payment deferral.
The deferral is an agreement between you and your lender. Typically, the agreement indicates that you and your lender have agreed to pause or suspend your mortgage payments for a certain amount of time. After the agreement ends, your mortgage payments return to normal and the deferred payments — including principal and accumulated interest – are added to the outstanding principal balance and subsequently repaid throughout the life of the mortgage.
To know if you are eligible for a mortgage payment deferral or to learn what options are available, contact your lender — your bank or your mortgage professional.
Supporting public health needs and preparedness
We are providing $100 million to support a range of federal health measures, including support for preparedness in First Nation and Inuit communities.
We are providing $270 million to supplement the On-Reserve Income Assistance Program to address increased demand on the program, which will help individuals and families meet their essential living expenses. It will also help hire additional staff to better serve First Nations communities and connect individuals to other government programs.
First Nations administer the On-Reserve Income Assistance Program. Program staff members play an important role in helping individuals with other needs, including providing referrals to mental health and addictions counselling, and helping families find and apply for appropriate government benefits, such as Employment Insurance, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, and the Canada Child Benefit.
We are providing $285.1 million to fund community-led responses to the pandemic and provide targeted increases in primary health care resources for First Nations communities.
In case of outbreaks, this funding can be used to provide surge capacity and additional support for community-based services in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.
We are providing $82.5 million in mental health and wellness supports to help Indigenous communities adapt and expand mental wellness services, improving access and addressing growing demand, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This funding will help partners and communities to adapt mental wellness services to the current COVID-19 context, including:
Funding under this program will flow through distinction-based allocations to national Indigenous organizations.
We are providing an additional $25 million to Nutrition North Canada to increase subsidies so families can afford much-needed personal hygiene products and nutritious food.
We are providing $75.2 million to offer additional distinctions-based support to First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation post-secondary students
We are providing $112 million in funding for First Nations to support community measures to ensure a safe return to school on reserves.
The investment will provide funding to meet the needs of schools and students that could include salaries for teachers, custodians and bus drivers (who may work additional hours during this period), access to technology, purchase of e-learning software, and the development of take-home learning materials.
We are providing $44.8 million over five years to build 12 new shelters, which will help protect and support Indigenous women and girls experiencing and fleeing violence.
This funding will help build 10 shelters in First Nations communities on reserve across the country (funded through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Shelter Enhancement Program) and two in the territories (funded through National Housing Co-Investment Fund), to support Indigenous women and children.
We will also provide $40.8 million to support operational costs for these new shelters over the first five years, and $10.2 million annually ongoing.
We are also announcing $1 million a year ongoing, starting this year, to support engagement with Métis leaders and service providers on shelter provision and community-led violence prevention projects for Métis women, girls, and LGBTQ and two-spirit people.
The process to access the funding for the shelters will be through an Expression of Interest. First Nations on reserve across the country and Indigenous governments and/or organizations in the territories will be eligible to submit proposals.
Indigenous peoples can also access all other benefits.
| Mon: | 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (By Appointment Only) |
| Tue: | 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (By Appointment Only) |
| Wed: | 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (By Appointment Only) |
| Thu: | 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (By Appointment Only) |
| Fri: | 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (By Appointment Only) |
| Sat: | Closed |
| Sun: | Closed |
