Hello everyone.

I want to start this morning by wishing everyone a happy Sikh Heritage Month.

Every day, Sikh Canadians make our cities and our neighbourhoods stronger.

And right now, when people need help most, you’re stepping up once again.

In Regina, you’re delivering supplies to your neighbours, while in Mississauga, you’re donating to the Seva Food Bank.

It just goes to show that we are all stronger together, supporting each other. 

You are doing your part.

And so many others are doing the same.

To the people on the front lines, thank you.

To farmers and truck drivers.

To those delivering air cargo.

To nurses and doctors.

You are working day and night so that we can eat and take our medication.

You are protecting our health and the health of our families.

Your government is here for you. And we all say thank you.

Our government has introduced a three-point economic plan to protect jobs, help people laid off, and support businesses.

If you’re worried about your job – we’re helping your employer keep you on the payroll with the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

Later today, Minister Morneau, Minister Ng, and Minister Bains will provide an update about this 75% wage subsidy.

But what I can say now is that it’s going to be available for businesses, big and small, that are not publicly funded and have seen a 30% or more decline in gross revenues.

That includes everything from bars and restaurants, to charities and non-profits.

Applications will soon open through the CRA.

Like I said on Friday, this money is for workers.

Employers will need to attest that they are doing everything they can to pay the remaining 25% of people’s wages.

These are unprecedented times, and will require us to pull together as a country and trust each other as Canadians.

So there will be stiff and severe penalties for trying to take advantage of this system and of your fellow Canadians.

Our 75% wage subsidy is there for businesses—both big and small—that are not publicly funded and have seen a decrease in their revenues of 30% or more.

This includes restaurants and bars, charities and non-profit organizations.

You will soon be able to apply on the Canada Revenue Agency website.

This money is there for workers.

Employers who use this subsidy must do everything in their power to pay the remaining 25% of their employees’ wages. 

As I said, this situation is unprecedented.

We are being called on to work together as a country and to trust one another.

There will be substantial legal penalties for those who try to take advantage of the system and of their fellow Canadians.

These are unprecedented times so we’re taking unprecedented action.

And while we put this measure in place, we’re continuing to move forward on the other two prongs of our economic plan.

To help business owners worried about rent or other bills, we’ve brought in new loans. 

To help people who lose their paycheck, whether they’re freelance or have been laid off, we created the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

And on that front, I have some good news to share.

Starting April 6, if you have not already applied for Employment Insurance, you will be able to apply online for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

I want to remind everyone that if you receive the wage subsidy, you cannot collect the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. It’s one or the other.

You can register at Canada.ca.

When submitting your application, you will be able to choose whether you want to receive your benefit by mail or by direct deposit.

Afterwards, all you will have to do is confirm once a month that you are still unemployed.

And, once again, if you have already applied for Employment Insurance, you will not have to register on April 6.

We will also be putting measures in place to prevent the system from being overloaded with applications.

Later today, Minister Duclos and Minister Qualtrough will have more details to share about the process and eligibility criteria. 

Starting April 6th, you will be able to apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

A reminder, if you’re getting the wage subsidy from your employer, you can’t collect the CERB.

It’s one or the other.

You can’t get both of these benefits.

For the CERB, you can register online at Canada.ca.

By selecting direct deposit, you should receive your payment within 3 to 5 days.

And if you can’t apply online, don’t worry.

You can call the Canada Revenue Agency for help over the phone.

By mail, you’ll get your cheque within 10 days.

After applying, all you need to do to keep getting this benefit, is check in every month to say that you’re still out of work.

And if you’ve already applied through EI, you’re all set up.

You don’t need to do anything on April 6th.

We’re putting measures in place so that we don’t overload the system, but I can assure you that everyone will get their money.

Later today, Minister Duclos and Minister Qualtrough will have more details on this whole process, from eligibility to applying to getting your cheque. 

But the bottom line is this: 

We’re getting you the help you need, when you need it.

We have a plan to protect jobs, to help those who have been laid off, and to support businesses that are having cash flow problems.

And we’re not done yet.

We’re going to keep working hard to make sure you’re getting the support you need.

This is the largest economic program in Canada’s history.

So I’ve asked the House Leader and the Deputy Prime Minister to reach out to the other parties about bringing back Parliament.

This must be a Team Canada effort.

Governments of all orders across the country are stepping up to fulfill their responsibilities to Canadians.

Canada hasn’t seen this type of civic mobilization since the Second World War.

These are the biggest economic measures in our lifetimes – to defeat a threat to our health.

These historic measures will support Canadians to stay home to defeat COVID-19.

But the government alone cannot win this fight.

We all have to answer the call of duty

This is service that most of us have never been called upon to do.

We, each of us, have to live up to our end of the bargain.

We must fulfill our collective responsibility to each other.

Listening to public health rules is your duty.

Staying home is your way to serve.

So be smart about what you do, about the choices you make.

That is how you will serve your country and how we will all serve each other.

How well we do this right now determines where our country will be in two weeks or in two months.

It’s in our hands.

It’s in your hands.

We all have a role to play.

We have a collective responsibility.

Where we find ourselves in a few weeks, in a few months, doesn’t depend on me: it depends on you.

I am calling on your civic conscience, to protect others.

If you do not follow the guidelines, you are putting others in danger.

We all have a moral obligation to stay home.

We all have a moral obligation to take care of one another.

We will get through this by working together.

By remaining true to our values, we will remain true to who we are as Canadians.

Thank you.