Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a $4 billion agreement with the provinces and territories to provide essential workers with wage increases during the pandemic.
"If you are risking your health to keep this country moving, and you are making minimum wage you deserve a raise," Trudeau said during his daily news briefing on Thursday.
The federal government is expected to pay out $3 billion while the provincial governments will pay $1 billion. It will be up to the provinces to determine who will qualify for the additional wages.
"Because of the variance right across the country, both in the COVID-19 situation and the delivery of essential services, including health care, we felt that it was best that the provinces move forward in choosing exactly how they can best help the workers who are doing such important work right across the country," said Trudeau.
The Ontario government previously announced front-line workers will receive a $4 an hour wage increase as pandemic pay. Eligible workers include health care workers and support staff in hospitals and long-term care facilities. A full list of eligible employees can be found here
