Madam Chair, I will be splitting my time with the member for Elmwood—Transcona.
The government encouraged people to apply for the CERB and deal with complications after, and that is exactly what has occurred: complications. In Manitoba, the Pallister government has decided to treat the $2,000 CERB as an excuse to cut provincial supports. EIA recipients who got CERB are now ineligible for future support.
Instead of making sure provinces do not claw back federal help, why has the government chosen to callously go after people who applied in good faith as “fraudulent applicants”? People in my riding who have their EIA paid out to landlords will no longer have their rent paid and they are at risk of homelessness. This is a nightmare.
Will the government respect Make Poverty History Manitoba's request and not require EIA recipients to pay back the CERB, forcing individuals deeper into poverty, yes or no?