Update:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the launch of the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program Thursday, which will help small businesses cover rent for the months of April, May and June.
Trudeau says the federal government is also expanding upon the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) to provide more loans for small and medium-sized businesses.
Companies spending between $20,000 and $1.5 million in total payroll for 2019 will now be eligible to apply for the $40,000 government-guaranteed loan.
Trudeau says that 195,000 loans - providing $7.5 million in credit to businesses - have been approved through CEBA to date.
Original story:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to brief Canadians at 11:15 a.m. on COVID-19 in what has become his daily address from Rideau Cottage.
Trudeau is expected to announce more financial help for small businesses struggling to survive the COVID-19 pandemic that has brought much of Canada's economy to a standstill.
Village Media will carry the livestream.
