LETTER: Reader wants benefit program to include those earning below $5K threshold

SooToday received the following letter from John Diluzio sent to Sault Ste. Marie MP Terry Sheehan in regards to the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit program: 

Dear Terry,

At the outset, I would like to express to you, the Prime Minister and the Liberal Government how profoundly grateful we along with all Canadians are having a Government so unequivocally committed to a singular mandate of protecting the health and welfare of its people utilizing all its resources and "leaving nothing on the table" (PM Justin Trudeau) in launching an unprecedented campaign to combat and defeat COVID-19.

Furthermore, we commend you and your Government for the introduction of the CERB (Canadian Emergency Response Benefit) program as part of a comprehensive program of financial assistance for individuals and business that will ensure Canadians do not need to worry about the essentials of life while staying safe during the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.We are immensely grateful for your unwavering commitment to guaranteeing that the health and welfare of people is Canada's first priority! 

In particular with respect to the CERB program, I wish to make a simple but important observation and present a reasonable recommendation for you and the Liberal Government to consider. Under the terms of eligibility of the CERB program as currently stated, only those individuals who earned a minimum of $5,000 in 2019 or the 12 months preceding March 2020 are eligible for this much needed financial assistance of $2,000 per month up to four months or $8,000. This is a significant amount of financial assistance especially to those of lesser means such as students and other part-time workers. Unfortunately, it is predicated on a single earnings threshold of $5,000, and for all those part-timers with earnings of just under this threshold e.g $4,900, they will receive $0 of assistance for the entire four-month period, compared to $8,000 for someone who's earnings were but $100 more. I believe this is  unintended nonetheless a very harsh and unfair outcome of this program as currently structured. In the interest of distributing this benefit in a more uniform and equitable manner to a greater number of the most needy, I respectfully propose that the the financial benefit provided by this program be PRO-RATED to earnings UP TO to $5,000. This would enable individuals with earnings less than $5,000 to receive a pro-rated amount of the $2,000 per month, e.g. the individual above with earnings of $4,900 would receive $1,960 per month instead of $0. 

Implementing the above recommended approach of pro-rating benefits would bring the CERB program in line with other government financial assistance programs including CRA rules for tax credits, etc. which are already structured on this basis.

As time is of the essence and in the interest of providing fairer and more uniform assistance to those most in need during this unprecedented pandemic, I respectfully request you consider the benefits of this proposal with the view to supporting and recommending it for approval and implementation in the appropriate manner and procedure.

If I can be of any assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me, as I would be pleased to do so.

Respectfully,
John Diluzio   BA  MBA  CMM