Liberals turn theirs backs on people who need help

In July, Justin Trudeau's Liberal government will cut the Canadian Recovery Benefit (CRB) for almost 2 million Canadians who depend on it to pay for groceries, rent and bills by $800 a month

OTTAWA —Today, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh heard from a professional in the music industry who hasn’t been able to work because of the pandemic and is worried that the Liberal cut to the CRB will prevent her family from making ends meet. With pandemic lockdowns still in effect across the country, many festivals, concerts and events remain cancelled. With no indication of when they’ll be able to return to work, many people like Cherelle and her husband will still have to rely on the CRB. Yet, instead of helping people for as long as they need it, the Liberals want to cut that help by $800 a month — leaving folks unable to pay for groceries, rent and bills.

“There are many people like Cherelle and her husband who can’t go back to work because of the pandemic lockdowns,” said Singh. “Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government is abandoning those workers and their families who are barely making ends meet now and will likely not be able to with the Liberals’ planned cut of $800 a month. The Liberals are out of touch with struggling families who need this money to make ends meet. New Democrats are calling on the Liberals to reverse this decision and ensure people continue to receive their full CRB as long as lockdowns prevent them from going back to work.”

While many Canadians still don’t have jobs to return to, the Liberals are trying to force through the Budget Implementation Act (BIA, Bill C-30) without fixing this unnecessary cut to the CRB that will leave families struggling. The Liberals’ cut to the CRB is another example that shows they aren’t in it for people who need help, but rather for ultra-rich companies who profited off the pandemic. When big banks increased banking fees and gouged Canadians during the pandemic, the Liberals left them off the hook. Yet when people still don’t have jobs to return to, the Liberals have no problem cutting the help that they rely on.

“People are scrambling and are in desperate need of help to support their families in this difficult time,” said Singh. “The Liberals said they would be there for people for as long as they would need help. Once again, it looks like that was just more nice words for the cameras while Justin Trudeau makes devastating cuts to the help families need. We should be helping people for as long as they need it, not taking help away from them. New Democrats will not let Justin Trudeau’s Liberals cut this help. We will continue to fight for people who need it.”