The financial needs of Canadian university students are unaddressed by the Federal Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Both current students and recent graduates are unable to work in an economy that has been almost completely suspended. This will result in an accumulation of cost-of-living debt: some will be forced to take on large debt-loads via credit card, while others will go yet further into their student loans. This is unacceptable. This pandemic is out of the control of Canadian students, who are in a uniquely precarious situation. Though the government has taken a first step in temporarily deferring interest and loan payments, this action only assists a fraction of Canadian students, and neither does it address the fact that all will incur debt that they would otherwise have been able to mitigate in some way. Most Canadian students do not currently qualify for CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit). This vulnerability should be addressed, especially since the economic repercussions of this pandemic will persist with unknown and potentially devastating consequences.

Fare-free transit is critical to providing a safe work environment for bus drivers during the Covid-19 pandemic: it allows back door boarding to allow physical distancing between drivers and passengers. As the economic recovery occurs post-pandemic, maintaining fare-free transit will allow all community members to access transportation as people get back on their feet.

Canadian banks earn billions of dollars every year from citizens across this country. People are struggling to pay any bills and some face economic ruin in these unprecedented times. If individuals and businesses could pay less down on their credit cards, they could stave off debt until the pandemic is over which could be a while. Even at 10%, people can't pay and will face more staggering debt in the future. This is simply wrong.

At this time of needed huge fiscal stimulus, why would our federal government, rather than creating the money interest free, cover the deficit by borrowing money from Banks and wealthy purchasers of other debt instruments? There is no need to create this debt burden, further feed the record wealth gap and barriers to eventual recovery, along with all the other upheavals taking place. Where we are left is well explained in : https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/the-bank-of-canada-should-be-reinstated-to-its-original-mandated-purposes

Currently the government is calling for retired physicians and nurses to re-register to deal with COVID-19 pandemic, and their services are so appreciated; however, we are neglecting the fact that we also have a sizeable number of Internationally-trained health professionals who have come to Canada from various avenues, from skilled migrants to refugees, who have the skills to help in this crisis, but currently cannot practice because it is exceedingly difficult to have their credentials recognized. It makes little sense in this time of crisis that there are members of our community who may need medical assistance at the same time as having members of our communities who could help but are currently not allowed to practice. It is worth mentioning that one of the main reasons for the occurrence of medical errors is a high workload of physicians. Therefore, recruitment of IMGs can improve the quality of care from different aspects, make medical services accessible to all Canadians, and prevent much harm to IMGs and their families. The current bylaw amendments proposed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (read more here: https://globalnews.ca/news/6774818/bc-associate-physician-foreign-trained-doctors-coronavirus/) is a step in the right direction, and we applaud the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC and the Ministry of Health for taking action. However, we believe more needs to be done to strengthen this amendment to help British Columbians, and the IMGs during this time and for the future. Now is the time to let a group of highly skilled New Canadians be part of the solution to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. As Dr John Blatherwick, former Medical Health Officer of Vancouver Coastal Health said: “Now is the time for us to consider foreign-trained graduates that we have in our community. We have an army of physicians, who can help bravely… This is a good time to sit down and say, Okay! We haven’t tackled this problem. We wasted all those people’s talents, and now we could use them.”

Many people are making $11.30- $27 an hour to risk their safety, and/or endanger their vulnerable housemates. This is grotesquely unacceptable. Personal care workers across Canada make $11-15 an hour work in close contact with vulnerable and sick people all day. As an RPN/LPN in Ontario, I can make $22 an hour being a nurse in my town. Is that enough to put me and my elderly parents that I live with the highest risk situation our country has seen in years? Meanwhile white collar workers are relying on us all to provide them with food, groceries, clean long-term care homes, and healthcare, while they get to remain in the safety of their nice condos and houses that they own. COVID-19 has made many more poor people risk their safety than wealthier ones, and in a rich and developed nation, that is shameful. Please sign this and share widely, - a fellow concerned citizen

This would stream line the entire process. There would be no need for EI claims (therefore no need for extra staff, which equals less chance of exposure), no need for OW reporting (again, more workers could be at home), no need for mortgage deferrals, bans on utility cut offs, student loan deferrals, ect, ect. ALL of these issues, and more, would no longer be a problem period. This would also address the concerns of people the current programs do not cover by giving the people who are left out allowences as well.

EVERYBODY is taking a hit. Shouldn’t the big banks and credit card companies be forced to suspend interest until this is over? A pause on payments is not enough. People are being laid off, businesses forced to close. Why are the banks getting a pass?

Many of us will not be re-hired after being laid off, mostly because of our age (and because of our higher wages compared to what our less experienced co-workers are receiving). Instead of us struggling with a lower income from EI (and perhaps welfare when EI runs out), allow "pre-seniors” to start receiving their OAS and GIS earlier. Our pension incomes would likely be significantly higher than EI benefits. Transitioning our vulnerable demographic into retirement and thereby “socially distancing” us from workplaces could also help reduce pressure on the health care system.

They have until 2022 to pay us. Now, most of us worked all last year for our Spring Break departures. Some of us may die before 2022, they should pay us what we are owed, since they are keeping our clients money. Since we are employed mostly commission based we do not qualify for EI or any other compensation from the government!

Our Doctors and nurses deserve our support and they are not only going to be dealing with Covid-19 but also with regular health problems (injuries and illnesses). People with EMR, OFA3, or 80AWFA should be asked to do some emergency basic training ASAP. In the sector of Adventure Tourism; mountain guides, ski patrollers, marine guides, river guides etc., certainly have essential training and skills to offer if/when/where the system is ready for this untapped and poised resource. Also, it's worth mentioning that many people in Adventure Tourism also have Class 4, 3, or 2 Drivers licences and might be wanted for emergency transport.

Climate change isn't a mysterious force, it's a whole bunch of known forces happening all at once, more and more with no chance to recover. Literally death from a thousand cuts with billions of lives. Entire sectors are being wiped out, and what we need to realize is that there is no "after Corona Virus", there will be something else, and then something else on and on. When we say climate emergency, we mean act now. Acting now means rapidly shifting our economy. We don't have time to nickel and dime who gets helped and who doesn't. The super rich got us into this mess, and it's their turn to bail everyone else out for a change. Every Canadian deserves to not have to panic about money while the government makes the rapid changes necessary to shore up our health care and social services infrastructure, and shift our economy away from fossil fuels immediately without leaving anyone behind. We can see what terrible damage slashing social services and ignoring the warnings of experts can bring, and now we know that no one is safe from the consequences.