Peace River-Westlock MP constituency office inundated with questions over federal relief programs

BARRHEAD-For many people struggling to stay afloat financially after finding themselves out of work, a broad-reaching federal assistance program could be the key at least temporarily.

On April 6, Canadians who find themselves out of work because of the coronavirus pandemic whether it is because of sickness or self-isolation are now able to access the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and as a result, have lost all income.

The program provides applicants $2,000 per month of taxable income for 16 weeks.

The benefit is open both to Canadians who qualify for employment insurance (EI) and those who don’t, including employees who don’t have enough work hours to meet EI requirements and the self-employed as long as they are at least 15-years-old, have a social insurance card and have earned a minimum of $5,000 in 2019.

Depending on how an applicant selects to receive payment, cheque or by direct deposit, people can expect their first payment anywhere from three to 10 days from submitting their application.

The expected price tag for CERB is $24 billion.

Peace River-Westlock Conservative Party MP Arnold Viersen said his office has been inundated with constituents' calls regarding CERB.

"Particularly as Service Canada offices have been closed and announcements with no details continue to be made. We are providing constituents with assistance and additional information as it is provided by the government, Viersen said via e-mail.

He also suspects his office will receive more calls not only because of the number of people adversely impacted due to the virus will increase but because of the one-time emergency payment of $1,146 provided by the province is no longer available.

The province made the payment available to residents who experienced a total or significant loss of income as a result of having to self-isolate, or are the sole caregiver of a dependent who is self-isolating or they have no other source of compensation. The purpose of this payment was to tie people over before federal government programs kick in such as employment insurance (EI) and the CERB became available. The province estimated that between 80,000 and 90,000 Albertans took advantage of the payment and the overall price tag will be upwards of $110 million.

Carbon levy

Viersen said he has always opposed the federal carbon levy, he reiterated the increase comes at a particularly bad time.

On April 1, the federal carbon levy increased from $20 per tonne to $30.

This is in keeping with the government's plan to raise it by $10 per tonne each year until 2022.

"It is just wrong, especially in the midst of a pandemic. It will especially impact the farmers who grow our food and all those involved in essential services," he said.

It should be noted that Viersen has thrown his support behind fellow Conservative Party MP Philip Lawrence's private member's bill, C-206, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act. If enacted, farmers would be exempted from paying the federal carbon levy on propane and natural gas. This is on top of the exemption farmers receive on marked gasoline and diesel.

MP pay raise

The optics are not the best, Viersen admitted.

On April 1, Canadian federal MPs received an automatic 2.1 per cent pay raise which will increase their base salaries by just over $3,750 to $182,656. Senators also received a pay bump of 2.4 per cent bringing their base pay to $157,656.

"I understand the frustration of Canadians over the pay raises. They were put in place by legislation adopted in 2005, long before I was elected," he said.

Parliament passed Bill C-30 as a way to depoliticize parliamentarians’ pay basing increases on the average increase negotiated by major bargaining units in the private sector.

"Conservatives have raised the issue of pay increases with the government," Viersen said. "Because the pay raise is automatic, the government has to put forward legislation to change it. If the Liberals put forward legislation to freeze MP salaries, I would support it."

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com

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