After Giving Healthcare Workers Pay Hike, Canada Offers Seniors Rs 27,000 For Covid-19 Expenses

In another move to help its citizens tide over the coronavirus crisis, Canada is giving its seniors a onetime payment of up to Can$500 or Rs 27,000 to help ease their financial burden.

Reuters

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Tuesday that the federal government will provide a one-time tax-free payment of $300 for seniors eligible for Old Age Security (OAS) and an additional $200, for seniors eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).

¡°There's no question that COVID-19 has been taking its toll on seniors, both emotionally and financially. And with today's announcement, our government is taking action to alleviate some of the stress they may be feeling,¡± Trudeau said during a daily briefing.

"Our parents and our grandparents are most at risk of catching the COVID-19 virus and of suffering the most serious consequences right across the country," he added.

The pandemic, he said, exposed shortfalls in care at nursing homes, where roughly 80 percent of COVID-19 deaths in Canada occurred. The crisis led to the military being sent in to help feed and care for residents.

Almost 60% of the deaths have occurred in Quebec, where Premier Francois Legault promised to reform the province¡¯s 400 long-care homes to ensure higher pay for workers and to limit the number of rooms.

¡°With these reforms in the coming months, you will see big changes,¡± he told a briefing.

Bigstocks

Federal Seniors Minister Deb Schulte earlier announced Ottawa would give seniors living on a fixed income a one-time payment ranging from C$300 ($215) to C$500 to deal with increased costs linked to the outbreak.

While other countries talk about concrete measures, Canada is making things happen and ensuring that every citizen is taken care of. The country had earlier given a pay raise to essential workers.

There is a lot nations across the world can learn from the pro-people reforms being brought by Canada.