Coronavirus: Local brewery reacts to Trudeau’s announcement of 75% wage subsidy

Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a 10-per cent wage subsidy, but stated Friday in his daily update that it’s not enough.

“It’s becoming clear that we need to do more — much more — so we’re bringing that percentage up to 75 per cent for qualifying businesses,” he said.

The details of the subsidy are currently unclear, but Trudeau stated that those will be explained on Monday, including whether it will have a capped amount.

Local businesses in Regina, like Rebellion Brewing Company, are excited to see the change the government is making, saying that these moves look promising for smaller businesses and give them a little more breathing room.

“There hasn’t been a lot of good news in the past couple weeks, and this was a pretty big deal,” says Mark Heise, the President of Rebellion Brewery.

4:08 Coronavirus outbreak: Trudeau promises 75% wage subsidy for businesses hit by coronavirus pandemic

Heise says he has been having to take a look at the list of employees and come up with a plan in regards to layoffs.

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“The announcement means I can delay that decision for a little longer and that’s a pretty good feeling.”

Rebellion Brewing Company has already had to lay off 10 employees. The company normally has 26 on the payroll, but they are now down to 14.

Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:

Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers across Canada are legally obligated to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning March 26, in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others. In Saskatchewan, international travellers are already required to self-isolate for 14 days upon their return to the province.

Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.

To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.

For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.