Today we could learn more about the federal government’s plan to rework the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) program.
Parliament's spending watchdog will deliver a report today about the costs of extending and changing the program.
The latest numbers show that 8.4 million people have applied for the benefit that offers $2,000 a month for those out of work — totalling more than $43 billion in payments as of June 4th.
The Trudeau government has introduced a bill that aims to punish Canadians found to be defrauding the CERB program, but it appears to be getting very little support from the opposition parties.
Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh says imposing fines or prison terms for fraudulent CERB claims would hurt the most vulnerable Canadians.
The prime minister insists no one will be penalized for making honest mistakes in the application process.
According to the proposed legislation, fines could be up to three times the amount that was received in CERB.
