For Canadians who were vulnerable even before COVID-19, concrete help tax-filing and navigating bene

Policy Options: Author Elizabeth Mulholland.

In the current crisis, it is important to put a “financial floor” under individuals to prevent avoidable hardship and to protect the health of vulnerable Canadians who are at greatest risk from COVID-19. The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and other emergency relief measures have largely done a good job in this respect, but some Canadians still need help to access this relief.

Many households that have lost jobs and income also need help to avoid taking on new debt they will have trouble repaying later and to build a financial plan so they, too, can participate in Canada’s post-COVID recovery and build their resilience against future shocks.

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