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By Curtis Galbraith

COVID-19

Concerns remain over pandemic help package says Warkentin

Mar 27, 2020 | 5:30 AM

Our Member of Parliament says concerns remain over a $102-billion pandemic help package the federal government announced earlier this week.

Grande Prairie-Mackenzie MP Chris Warkentin says those include not enough help for small businesses and independent contractors and how long that help will take to arrive.

“We know that the government has the ability. We know there are systems in place to deal with employment insurance and so we are hopeful that while there are significant backlogs because of the number of people that are applying, we know there are systems in place that money to flow. It may be delayed because of the number of people that have applied.”

He thinks the government should let the money flow through exiting systems rather than creating new ones.

“Any time that the government has to create new systems, it takes months if not years to get it right and, quite frankly, we just don’t have that time right now.”

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Warkentin says having a minority Parliament meant the government had to listen to the concerns voiced by the opposition parties, although not all of them could agree on all the things that needed to be changed.

He adds work to find common ground among all parties will continue.

We asked Warkentin why the package approved totalled $25-billion more than first announced.

“There’s been a significant amount of shifting over the last number of days with regards to the government’s estimate. There is a threshold to allow some flexibility with regards to some of the programs that have been announced. Obviously, the government is not sure (how many) people will apply.”

Warkentin says he is encouraged that some people will be getting help. He adds the Conservatives will be watching for more announcements, saying the government doesn’t have all the answers for what might happen.