Image Credit: Skype / CFJC Today

By James Peters

COVID-19

Kamloops-area MP says application system for COVID-19 benefit ‘holding up’

Apr 6, 2020 | 12:14 PM

KAMLOOPS — The member of parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo says it appears the application system for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) is performing about as well as can be expected.

The CERB is meant to provide financial help for those who have seen their incomes decimated by the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Applications opened up Monday (Apr. 6) for those whose birthdays land within the first three months of the year.

Cathy McLeod says her office is helping people with their applications.

“What I’ve heard is that there have been hundreds of thousands of applicants already and, although it’s not been perfect, it has been holding up,” McLeod told CFJC Some people, the system has crashed for, but they try again and they’re getting through.”

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In his morning address Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said about a quarter of a million people had successfully applied for the CERB within the first few hours of applications being accepted.

McLeod says using the government’s website will likely be the smoothest method, but those without online access can call her office at (250) 851-4991.

She notes applying online is also helpful because of how quickly the picture is changing.

“This is very much a changing landscape and for anyone who has access to a computer, I really recommend you just go to canada.ca, because I’m finding often I’ll give advice on one day and the next day it’s a very different piece of information,” said McLeod.

“Although this is going to be very, very helpful for many who have been impacted, there are some loopholes,” she continued. “The loopholes are for people who have lost the majority of their income but still make a bit of money. So there are different circumstances where this is not going to be helpful. The government did commit today that they’re going to look for other measures to ensure that no one is left behind.”